ISLAMABAD: Pakistan’s permanent representative to the United Nations, Munir Akram, has said Islamabad was “very actively” trying to push the Afghan government and Taliban insurgents to resume peace talks for a political settlement in the war-torn country, Pakistan’s state run media reported on Wednesday.
A spokesman for the Taliban said this week the group planned to present a written peace proposal to the Afghan government side as soon as next month even as insurgents make major territorial gains in the breach left by departing foreign forces.
Hundreds of Afghan security force members have fled into neighboring Tajikistan in the face of Taliban advances since the United States vacated its main Afghan base, centerpiece of US and NATO might for almost two decades in the country, as part of a plan to withdraw all foreign troops by September 11.
While the transfer of Bagram Air Base to the Afghan army added momentum to a Taliban drive to seize control over new districts, Taliban leaders renewed the long stalled talks with Afghan government envoys in Qatar’s capital Doha last week.
“As the United States completes its withdrawal from Afghanistan, Pakistan is very actively involved in trying to move the Afghan government and Taliban to resume talks for a political settlement of the conflict,” Radio Pakistan quoted Akram as saying in response to questions about Afghanistan during a briefing with UN correspondents.
“Pakistan had in the first instance facilitated talks between the United States and Taliban in Doha and then between Afghan government and Taliban in its efforts to promote a settlement that would bring the long-running war to an end,” Radio Pakistan said.
Referring to a report about a Taliban peace plan to be presented to the Afghan government, the Pakistani envoy said: “It is a good proposal on which negotiations could move forward.”
Pakistan says ‘actively’ pushing for resumption of talks between Taliban, Kabul
https://arab.news/wdg2q
Pakistan says ‘actively’ pushing for resumption of talks between Taliban, Kabul
- Taliban say planning to present written peace proposal to Afghan government as soon as next month
- Taliban leaders renewed long stalled talks with Afghan government envoys in Qatar’s capital Doha last week
Pakistan passes Virtual Assets Act 2026, empowers regulator to combat money laundering
- Legislation introduces licensing for virtual asset service providers, market surveillance mechanisms
- Pakistan is one of the world’s top cryptocurrency markets, with millions actively using virtual assets
KARACHI: Pakistan’s parliament on Friday passed the Virtual Assets Act 2026, granting the Pakistan Virtual Assets Regulatory Authority (PVARA) powers to combat money laundering, militant financing and other illicit activities, the regulator said.
The legislation introduces regulatory provisions including mandatory licensing for virtual asset service providers, market surveillance mechanisms, anti-money laundering and counter-terrorism financing compliance, and coordination with Pakistani financial regulators including the State Bank of Pakistan and the Securities and Exchange Commission of Pakistan.
Pakistan has in recent months stepped up efforts to draft rules for regulating the fast-expanding market for digital coins and tokens, requiring virtual asset service providers to secure government approval. Islamabad’s move to embrace digital currency marks a significant policy shift as it had banned cryptocurrency in 2018, citing financial risks.
“A year ago, Pakistan’s digital asset landscape was defined by uncertainty and grey areas. Today, we have the country’s first Act of Parliament establishing a regulatory body for virtual assets, building on the Presidential Ordinance introduced in 2025,” PVARA Chairman Bilal bin Saqib said in a post on X.
“With NOCs [no objection certificates] already issued and banking rails being developed in coordination with the State Bank of Pakistan, we are now moving toward a comprehensive licensing framework aligned with global AML [anti-money laundering] and financial integrity standards.”
Meanwhile, PVARA said the framework aims to boost transparency, protect investors, and ensure a stable, trustworthy virtual asset market while supporting responsible fintech innovation.
“The legislation also equips the Authority with powers to address money laundering, terrorist financing, and other illicit activities associated with virtual assets, bringing Pakistan’s regulatory approach in line with international standards,” it added.
Pakistan ranks among the world’s largest cryptocurrency markets by adoption, with millions of citizens actively engaged in virtual assets.
In February, Dr. Afnanullah Khan, a Pakistani senator from the ruling party, had said major crypto coins such as Bitcoin, Ethereum and XRP will soon be traded in Pakistan through crypto exchanges.
Pakistan earlier launched a “regulatory sandbox” for firms to trial crypto services under PVARA’s supervision before full approval.
In January, Pakistan signed a memorandum of understanding with a World Liberty Financial-linked firm, tied to US President Donald Trump’s family, to explore a dollar-backed stablecoin for cross-border payments.
