Security agencies and govt need to work together to map out a durable strategy to deal with militant outfits
ISLAMABAD: The recent actions under the National Action Plan (NAP) to ban 'militant' outfits have received huge appreciation from within the country as well as the international community.
There is no doubt that Pakistan has been struggling with a negative image of “hosting militants” for quite a long time. Such vital steps by the government are extremely important, however generic.
The security agencies and the government still need to work together to map out a durable strategy to deal with such groups.
Meanwhile, the Financial Action Task Force (FATF) has asked Pakistan to take strict actions against militant outfits in order to avoid being added to its black list.
Pakistan is already placed on the grey list of the FATF which believes that the country has done little to curb the reach of organisations like Jamat-ud-Dawa and Jaish-e-Muhammad amongst others, and these continue to grow stronger.
The FATF has insisted that any monetary support to these organisation (even in the form of donations because many work as charity organisations) will result in consequences for Pakistan. It needs to show that strict action is taken against any financial transaction that these parties might carry out — hence the decision to ban Jamat-ud-Dawah and Falah-i-Insaniat Foundation.
On the other hand, the 'Naya Pakistan' of Prime Minister Imran Khan seems to be on the right track towards prosperity. However, one wonders whether the actions that have been taken against militant groups will be continued as a definite policy or they have just been taken under the threat of being added to the FATF black list?
Javed Ali Kalhoro
Published in The Express Tribune, March 10th, 2019.
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