The revelation by the report submitted to the Financial Action Task Force has once again exposed Pakistan’s duplicitous conduct in the global fight against terrorism and weapons proliferation. The report highlighting Islamabad’s attempts to import missile-related equipment from China by mislabeling shipments clandestinely is more than just a technical violation-it is a resounding alarm for the international community. The involvement of Pakistan’s National Development Complex, directly linked to its missile programme, signifies how deeply embedded such proliferation activities are within state machinery. This is not a one-off instance; it is yet another chapter in Pakistan’s long and dark history of using terror and weapons proliferation as instruments of state policy.
Despite repeated warnings, sanctions, and temporary listings in FATF’s ‘grey list’, Pakistan continues to flout international norms, believing it can escape meaningful repercussions. India, which has borne the brunt of Pakistan’s state-sponsored terrorism for decades, finds itself in a particularly vulnerable position. The complicity of Pakistan’s army and the ISI-in nurturing terrorist outfits like Lashkar-e-Toiba, Jaish-e-Mohammad, and Hizbul Mujahideen-is no longer a matter of suspicion; it is a matter of record. The world cannot afford to overlook the fact that Osama bin Laden, the mastermind of 9/11, was found and killed in Abbottabad, Pakistan, a stone’s throw from a military academy. Nor can it ignore the open presence of UN-designated terrorists such as Hafiz Saeed, Masood Azhar, and Syed Salahuddin within Pakistan’s borders, where they operate freely, raise funds, and influence state policy. The so-called crackdown on terror networks in Pakistan is nothing more than a smokescreen designed to hoodwink global oversight bodies.
The FATF’s upcoming report, expected to expose further violations and linkages to Pakistan’s military-industrial complex, could be a turning point-if the global community chooses to act decisively. Re-listing Pakistan on the grey list, or even considering blacklisting, is not a punitive measure alone; it is a necessary step to protect international security and integrity. Failure to do so would only embolden Pakistan further, leading to greater instability not just in South Asia but potentially in other regions where terror networks thrive on Pakistani support.
India has done its part. From repeated diplomatic engagements and evidence-sharing to proactive operations like Operation Sindoor-which served as a clear message that India will not tolerate cross-border terrorism-New Delhi has exhausted most peaceful avenues. Yet, despite India’s efforts, the global response has often been tepid, if not outright enabling. The recent financial support extended by the IMF and the endorsement of a Pakistani nominee to key anti-terrorism committees at the UN send a deeply worrying signal. These decisions suggest a troubling compromise of principles for the sake of geopolitical expediency. It undermines the very architecture of global counterterrorism and demoralises nations like India that have upheld international norms while being persistently targeted.
The time has come for the world to align with India’s perspective-not just out of solidarity, but out of enlightened self-interest. Regional security in South and Southeast Asia is a global imperative. The proliferation of missile technology, facilitated by clandestine deals and misdeclared shipments, is not just a South Asian problem-it is a global one. The rise of transnational terror networks, cyberterrorism, and nuclear threats makes it imperative that rogue behaviour is swiftly and unambiguously penalised. Moreover, the risk of inaction is high. If global bodies like FATF fail to act decisively now, they risk becoming ineffective in the eyes of both the public and the perpetrators.
India, for its part, reserves the sovereign right to defend its people and interests. It is capable of acting decisively and unilaterally when the global community dithers. But the global community must lend weight to India’s long-standing warnings and take collective responsibility for ensuring that nations supporting terrorism are not rewarded but held to account. If the international community continues to indulge Pakistan’s duplicity, it will be a collective failure of the world’s commitment to peace, security, and justice. We must not overlook the findings of the FATF. It’s time to isolate Pakistan.
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