Now almost on back to back basis since 2018 , Pakistan continues to be on the ”Grey List” of the Financial Action Task Force (FATF) which is the global money laundering and terrorist financing watchdog . Now, perhaps, accustomed of being on such a type of international radar and watched closely how it was involved in or was encouraging funding of terrorists and terror activities implicitly and explicitly , Pakistan may be quite satisfied that such a ”listing” did not amount to imposition of any penalty or sanctions , the fact of the matter, however, is which cannot be denied that it was on the global watch list. For any country , to add to its international standing , importance , honour and commitment to strengthen regional and international peace and co-operation , diplomatic , political and on the ground efforts are done on continuous basis.
It is not that once such type of inputs collected by FATF , in turn influence and dictate its decision to put countries on warning lists indefinitely or for longer durations but the global watchdog keeps on reviewing the position based on latest inputs hence revising the blacklist regularly by adding or deleting or even putting countries in comparatively soft categories of default depending upon how they positively responded to concerns of FATF. However, since Pakistan has not explained its position to the entire satisfaction of the FATF in respect of the persistent deficiencies found in its financial statements, the decision to keep it on the grey list has thus been taken. In fact, some solid and tangible measures should have been taken by Pakistan in pre-empting and preventing any dubious financial transactions which smelt of being pertaining to money laundering and later to confiscate such proceeds coupled with stringent action against those found involved. It has not done so for various reasons, strangely as it seems so, nor has it addressed satisfactorily the plan of action given to it in 2018 by FATF to be attended to fully by October 2019, so far.
The list of ”defiance” is long as it does not appear to have set up a robust intelligence set up to prevent channelizing funds through illicit means for sustaining terrorism . Its naked and open involvement in respect of sponsoring, arming , training and extending all types of support to terrorism for nearly four decades in parts of India particularly in Jammu and Kashmir and earlier in Punjab, is well known globally and , therefore, it becomes quite imperative for India to directly and indirectly oppose any move to afford any relief to that country by FATF unless it winds up its terror infrastructure from its and PoK’s soil.
It is widely believed and based on facts too, that Pakistan is considered to be a safe haven rather an epicentre for terror funding and money laundering. Why is it, therefore, not putting forth convincing evidence to FATF on the country, is due to the reasons that it is in fact ”committed ” to such an ideology and has implied understanding with radical and terror outfits who must , therefore, sustain and survive on funding through money laundering and Hawala money transactions hence going soft on the issue. Even a few globally (UN) designated terrorists continue to live quite comfortably in Pakistan and instead of arresting them and prosecuting them for various crimes , they enjoy the state patronage. 26/11 Mumbai terror attack mastermind continues to breathe free air and move freely in Pakistan. The report of FATF , however, on the ”progress” of addressing the remaining points by Pakistan is of somewhat encouraging nature so that it was motivated to address deficiencies in ensuring prevention of money laundering and terror financing , till then it must cool its heels under the Grey List.
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