New Delhi: Pakistan will remain on the ‘Grey List’ of the Financial Action Task Force (FATF) as it needs to “further demonstrate” that action is being taken against UN-designated terrorists such as India’s Most Wanted Hafiz Saeed and Masood Azhar and groups Is. Under his leadership, the global body against the financing of terrorism said on Thursday.
Addressing a press conference, FATF President Marcus Player informed that the decision has been taken on the conclusion of the organization’s virtual plenary.
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According to Marcus Plier, the Paris-based FATF requires Pakistan to investigate terrorism financing and prosecute leaders and commanders of UN-designated terrorist groups and their allies.
News agency PTI reported that Pakistan remains on an “enhanced watch list”, he said in a virtual press conference from Paris.
“Enhanced Watch List” is another name for ‘Grey List’.
“The Government of Pakistan has two concurrent action plans, with a total of 34 action plan items. It has now addressed or extensively addressed 30 items,” the FATF chairman informed during the press conference, as quoted by news agency ANI.
He said that “Pakistan has taken several important steps, but needs to further demonstrate that the senior leadership of UN-designated terrorist groups is being investigated and prosecuted”.
“All of these changes are about helping officials stop terrorism, curb corruption, and stop organized criminals from profiting from their crimes,” he said.
Meanwhile, it was also reported that Jordan, Mali and Turkey are three new additions to the global terror financing watchdog’s “enhanced watch list”. The three countries have agreed an action plan with the FATF.
The FATF congratulated Mauritius and Botswana on their removal from the gray list.
FATF on the situation in Afghanistan
The global body expressed its concern about the money laundering and terrorist financing risk environment currently developing in Afghanistan. “We reaffirm the recent UNSC resolutions on the situation in Afghanistan. We demand that the country should not be used to plan or finance terrorist acts.
The FATF further stated that along with the Asia/Pacific Group on Money Laundering (APG), the Eurasian Group on Combating Money Laundering and the Financing of Terrorism (EAG) and the Global Network, it will closely monitor the situation in Afghanistan, including Any changes included. Laundering and terrorist financing risks in the country.
Pakistan has been on the FATF gray list since June 2018 for deficiencies in its counter-terrorism financing and anti-money laundering regimes.
Earlier in July, External Affairs Minister (EAM) S Jaishankar had credited the Narendra Modi-led central government for ensuring that Pakistan is included in the FATF gray list.
S Jaishankar, while virtually addressing the training program of BJP leaders on the foreign policy of the Modi government, told the members that it is due to the efforts of the government in global forums that sanctions have been imposed on terrorists of Jaish and Lashkar.
“It is because of us that Pakistan is in the eyes of the FATF and has been kept in the gray list. We have been successful in putting pressure on Pakistan and the fact is that the behavior of Pakistan has changed because of the pressure exerted by India by various measures.
(with inputs from agencies)
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