Pakistan is not going up on the global terror watch list, at least not any time soon.
In the ongoing Financial Action Task Force (FATF) in Paris, US put forward a motion to put Pakistan under the global terror watch list. Fortunately the bid failed, according to Foreign Minister Khawaja Asif.
Had the motion been approved. Pakistan would then be added to a list of countries that aren’t doing their part to follow the terror-funding regulations.
He said that there was “no consensus for nominating Pakistan” for the list. The motion will be paused until June while Pakistan will ask the Asia Pacific Group on Money Laundering to consider another report.
He also said that he was “Grateful to friends for help”.
This was announced by the Minister in his tweet:
Gathering Support
Aside from the Foreign Minister, Prime Minister’s Financial Advisor, Dr. Miftah Ismail also flew to Paris to argue Pakistan’s case.
He left this weekend to attend the meeting, visiting Belgium, Netherlands and Germany to rally support for Pakistan.
About The Global Terror Watch List
US’s motion, or rather Donald Trump’s effort, to put Pakistan on the watch list was backed by France, Britain and Germany.
If Pakistan is added to the list, it would be branded as a non-follower of anti-money laundering measures and terror financing laws of the FATF, which could hurt the country’s economy.
Being put on the list would also cause Pakistan’s International Credit Rating to crater, as several financial institutions are under FATF’s influence.
UN’s Study on Terrorism in Pakistan
Last year, UN released a case study on counter terrorism efforts in KP, Pakistan. Titled ““Understanding the Counter Terrorism Response – Case Analysis of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa”, the report was compiled in collaboration with United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC), Home and Tribal Affairs Department of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, and National Counter Terrorism Authority.
The study highlighted Pakistan’s effort on counter terrorism while also pointing out key areas of improvement in criminal justice agencies and law enforcement departments.
