ISLAMABAD: US National Security Adviser Michael Waltz called Pakistan’s Deputy Prime Minister Ishaq Dar on Wednesday during which the two officials discussed counterterrorism cooperation and bilateral cooperation in various sectors, Pakistan’s state broadcaster said.
The phone call followed US President Donald Trump’s Tuesday announcement about the arrest of a senior Daesh commander implicated in the 2021 Kabul airport bombing that killed 13 US service members. Trump thanked Pakistan for helping US arrest the Daesh commander.
Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif responded by thanking Trump for acknowledging Pakistan’s role and support in counterterrorism in a social media post. He said the Daesh commander was an Afghan national who was arrested in a successful operation conducted in the Pakistan-Afghanistan border region.
“Deputy Prime Minister Ishaq Dar received a call from US National Security Adviser Michael Waltz, who conveyed President Donald Trump’s appreciation and thanks for Government of Pakistan’s efforts in countering terrorism,” state broadcaster Radio Pakistan reported.
Dar congratulated Waltz on assuming office and said Islamabad looks forward to building on its “longstanding and broad-based” relationship with Washington under Trump and his administration, the state-run media said.
“He reaffirmed Pakistan’s commitment to continue its cooperation with the United States in the field of counterterrorism,” Radio Pakistan said, adding that Dar also appreciated Trump’s announcement to withdraw US military equipment left behind in Afghanistan.
The two sides reaffirmed their commitment to enhance cooperation in IT, energy and mineral sectors, Radio Pakistan said.
They also agreed on the need to have continued dialogues on trade, investment, climate change and health as part of a broad-based agenda in the days to come, the state-run media said.
Pakistan and the US have a history of cooperation in counterterrorism efforts, particularly during the “war on terror” following the Sept. 11 attacks.
Despite periods of strained relations, Pakistan has captured and handed over several Taliban and Al-Qaeda members to US authorities.
However, both nations have faced criticism from human rights organizations, alleging that not all detainees were affiliated with militant groups and highlighting concerns over the treatment of these individuals, including reports of extreme interrogation techniques such as waterboarding and sleep deprivation.
Ties between Pakistan and the US, which mostly remained strained under former prime minister Imran Khan’s premiership from 2018-2022, have improved since Khan’s ouster from office. His predecessor Sharif has called for closer ties with Washington since assuming office in March last year.
US national security adviser calls Pakistan deputy PM, discusses counterterror cooperation
https://arab.news/2zfjj
US national security adviser calls Pakistan deputy PM, discusses counterterror cooperation
- Call follows Trump’s statement thanking Pakistan for helping arrest senior Daesh commander
- Islamabad wants to build on “broad-based” ties with Washington, Ishaq Dar tells Michael Waltz
Pakistan bank enables Shariah-compliant digital payment facility for passengers at Islamabad airport
Pakistan bank enables Shariah-compliant digital payment facility for passengers at Islamabad airport
- Pakistan is a cash-dominated market where a significant portion of transactions in the informal sector are made without any taxes, officials say
- The move comes amid Pakistan’s efforts to introduce a cashless model at airports under which only digital service providers can provide services
KARACHI: Aik, Pakistan’s first Islamic digital bank, has enabled fully digital payments at Islamabad International Airport to offer travelers and passengers secure, Shariah compliant digital transaction facility.
The development comes amid Pakistan’s efforts to introduce a cashless model at airports across the country, under which only digital service providers can provide services to customers.
Aik, a subsidiary of Bank Islami, said it has onboarded merchants across the Islamabad airport and integrated QR code deployments at key touchpoints to allow passengers and visitors to make secure, seamless, and Shariah-compliant digital transactions at all counters, retail outlets, and service points.
It said the implementation complies with the regulations and framework set by the State Bank of Pakistan (SBP) and is a working model for a large-scale adoption of cashless systems in public infrastructure.
“This deployment reflects our commitment to building practical digital infrastructure that improves everyday transactions,” Aik Chief Officer Ashfaque Ahmed said in a statement.
“By enabling a fully cashless environment at a major national gateway, we are supporting efficiency, transparency, and financial inclusion at scale. This is not only a project; it is a foundation for Pakistan’s cashless future.”
Pakistan is a cash-dominated market where a significant portion of transactions, particularly in the informal sector, are conducted in cash. Officials say many of these transactions are aimed at avoiding taxes.
In recent years, the SBP has taken steps to ensure a transition toward a more cashless economy so that transactions are more traceable, reducing chances of tax evasion and corruption.
By digitizing Islamabad airport, aik said it continues to invest in secure and accessible financial solutions that “expand digital participation and support national economic modernization.”
