Islamic military coalition, Pakistan to deepen cooperation to combat ‘terrorism’ — Pakistani military

IMCTC Secretary-General Maj. Gen. Mohammed bin Saeed Al-Moghedi in a meeting with Chief of Pakistani Defense Forces Field Marshal Asim Munir in Rawalpindi on February 2, 2026. (ISPR)
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Updated 02 February 2026
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Islamic military coalition, Pakistan to deepen cooperation to combat ‘terrorism’ — Pakistani military

  • Islamic Military Counter Terrorism Coalition is a 43-member alliance that includes Pakistan, Saudi Arabia, Egypt, Jordan, UAE and other nations
  • The Pakistani military statement comes after a meeting between IMCTC secretary-general and the chief of Pakistani defense forces in Rawalpindi

ISLAMABAD: Pakistan and the Islamic Military Counter Terrorism Coalition (IMCTC) have reaffirmed their commitment to deepening cooperation, including intelligence sharing and capacity building, to jointly combat “terrorism” and “extremism,” the Pakistani military said on Monday.

The IMCTC is a 43-member military alliance that was formed on Saudi Arabia’s initiative in Dec. 2015 to consolidate Muslim countries’ efforts in countering “terrorism.”

A 17-member IMCTC delegation is visiting Pakistan from Feb. 2-6 to conduct a training at National University of Sciences and Technology on “Re-integration and Rehabilitation of Extremist Elements,” according to the Pakistani military.

On Monday, IMCTC Secretary-General Maj. Gen. Mohammed bin Saeed Al-Moghedi held a meeting with Chief of Pakistani Defense Forces Field Marshal Asim Munir to discuss cooperation among IMCTC member states.

“During the meeting, matters of mutual interest were discussed, with particular emphasis on regional security dynamics and enhanced cooperation in counter-terrorism efforts,” the Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR), the Pakistani military’s media wing, said in a statement.

“Both sides reaffirmed their shared commitment to combating terrorism and extremism through collaborative strategies, intelligence sharing, and capacity building among member states.”

The IMCTC features Pakistan, Saudi Arabia, Türkiye, Afghanistan, Egypt, Jordan, Qatar, Palestine, UAE, Bangladesh and other nations. In 2017, Pakistan’s former army chief Gen. (retd) Raheel Sharif was appointed as the IMCTC commander-in-chief.

During discussions with Major General Al-Moghedi, Field Marshal Munir appreciated the role of IMCTC in fostering stability and promoting coordinated counterterrorism initiatives across the Islamic world, according to the ISPR.

The IMCTC secretary-general acknowledged Pakistan’s significant contributions and sacrifices in the fight against militancy and lauded the professionalism of Pakistan’s armed forces.

“The meeting underscored the resolve of both sides to further strengthen institutional collaboration for peace, stability, and security in the region,” the ISPR added.

Pakistan enjoys cordial ties with most Muslim countries around the world, particularly Gulf Cooperation Council countries. In Sept. 2025, Pakistan signed a landmark defense pact with Saudi Arabia according to which an act of aggression against one country will be treated as an act of aggression against both.

 


Pakistan Senate committee approves draft law paving way for legal crypto trade 

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Pakistan Senate committee approves draft law paving way for legal crypto trade 

  • Pakistan Virtual Assets Regulatory Authority to grant licenses to issue crypto coins, regulate crypto exchange under new law, says senator
  • Major cryptocurrencies such as Bitcoin, Ethereum and XRP expected to be traded legally in Pakistan within weeks, says lawmaker

ISLAMABAD: A Pakistani Senate committee approved a draft bill to regulate virtual assets on Wednesday, paving the way for cryptocurrency trading to become legal in the country.

Pakistan has been undertaking efforts over the past couple of months in drafting rules to regulate the fast-expanding market for digital coins and tokens, requiring virtual-asset service providers to obtain government approval. Islamabad’s moves to adopt digital currency is a significant shift in policy, considering it had previously banned cryptocurrency transactions in 2018 citing financial risks and lack of regulation.

Last month, Pakistan signed a memorandum of understanding with a company affiliated with the World Liberty Financial, a crypto-based finance platform launched in September 2024 and linked to US President Donald Trump’s family. The agreement explores the use of a dollar-linked stablecoin for cross-border payments. 

Pakistan Senate’s Standing Committee on Cabinet approved the draft “Virtual Asset Act 2026” during a meeting on Wednesday. The bill relates to the Pakistan Virtual Assets Regulatory Authority’s mandate (PVARA) and its power to issue licenses. 

“So under the new law, what will happen is that there will be an authority which already exists, the Pakistan Virtual Asset Regulatory Authority (PVARA), that will have the power to give licenses in which crypto coins can be issued, in which mining can be done, and they will be able to regulate the whole (crypto) market,“” Senator Dr. Afnan Ullah Khan, a member of the committee, told Arab News.

He said under the new law, PVARA will be able to check which company has the license to issue crypto coins and which ones can raise funds for this purpose.

When asked whether crypto trading will be legal in Pakistan after the bill passes in parliament, Dr. Afnan said the draft law will first be presented in the Senate and National Assembly for approval. After that, he said the president will sign it into law. 

“Then it will become legal,” Dr. Afnan said. “It will not take a few weeks, it will take maybe like a week.”

He added that major crypto coins such as Bitcoin, Ethereum and XRP will be traded in Pakistan through crypto exchanges.

Dr. Afnan said the bill was analyzed by committee members, adding that the final draft was approved with the consent of all parties.

He said the law also caters to concerns on the use of cryptocurrency for money laundering and illegal purposes, adding that it also proposes fines for violations by licensees.

PVARA last year issued No Objection Certificates (NOCs) to two global crypto exchanges HTX and Binance. 

PVARA said the NOCs allow Binance and HTX to conduct preparatory and engagement activities within Pakistan under “defined regulatory oversight,” clarifying that it does not constitute a “full operating license.”