Desk:Following the deadly terrorist attack in Pahalgam, Jammu and Kashmir, Pakistan’s terror nexus has once again been exposed before the global community. In the wake of the attack, there is renewed demand to place Pakistan back on the Financial Action Task Force (FATF) grey list.
The FATF, a global watchdog monitoring terror financing, strongly condemned the Pahalgam attack that took place on April 22. In this brutal assault, Pakistan-backed terrorists killed 26 innocent civilians. In a statement issued on Monday, FATF stated, “Such attacks are not possible without financial networks and support.” This comment is being seen as a direct criticism of Pakistan.
FATF further emphasized that it is now focusing more closely on the concrete and effective measures member states are taking to curb terror financing. The statement comes as India continues to present fresh evidence exposing Pakistan’s ongoing support and financial backing of terrorism.
Move to Place Pakistan Back on Grey List Underway
According to sources, India is preparing to initiate the process of placing Pakistan back on FATF’s grey list. Ahead of the Asia-Pacific Group meeting scheduled for August 25, and FATF’s plenary session on October 20, India is compiling a comprehensive dossier detailing Pakistan’s continued role in funding and supporting terrorism.
Pakistan’s Long History with the Grey List
Pakistan was first placed on the FATF grey list in 2008, removed in 2010, but re-listed in 2012. After being taken off the list in 2015, Pakistan was once again placed on the grey list in 2018. Although it was removed from the grey list in October 2022, FATF had urged Pakistan to continue implementing reforms.
Currently, FATF’s network includes over 200 countries and jurisdictions working collectively to combat terror financing. Recently, FATF also announced that it would soon release a detailed report highlighting emerging threats, including misuse of social media, crowdfunding platforms, and virtual assets for terror financing.
At the ‘No Money for Terror’ conference held in Munich, Germany, FATF President Elisa de Anda Madrazo remarked, “Terrorists only need to succeed once. But we must stop them every time. This is not the responsibility of any one country, institution, or company — it is a shared responsibility of the entire world.”