Overview
- A short video from April 11, filmed during US-led talks with Iran in Islamabad, shows US envoy Steve Witkoff introducing Umar Farooq Zahoor to Vice President JD Vance.
- Norwegian prosecutor Carl Graff Hartmann says Zahoor is wanted for aggravated fraud and money laundering tied to a 2010 Nordea Bank scheme that allegedly siphoned more than 60 million kroner, which Zahoor denies.
- Norway’s Supreme Court has upheld an order to arrest Zahoor, and authorities say they have pursued his detention and extradition for years.
- Pakistan awarded Zahoor the Hilal-e-Imtiaz in March 2025 for bringing in investment, and a Pakistani court in April 2025 granted him damages in a defamation case against the Norwegian outlet VG.
- Pakistan withdrew an Interpol Red Notice request in 2022 and closed local probes for lack of evidence, and officials have not said he held any official role at the Islamabad talks.