FATF action plan: Indian contentions regarding Pakistan rejected

FO terms New Delhi’s statement ‘preposterous and unwarranted’, says India politicising FATF deliberations

Pakistan has rejected India’s contentions regarding Islamabad’s progress in improving its counter-terror financing operation in line with an internationally agreed plan, reiterating that New Delhi was politicising the deliberations of the Financial Action Task Force (FATF).

The FATF, following its plenary meeting in Orlando, Florida on Friday gave Pakistan until October to comply with the international standards on Anti-Money Laundering and Counter Financing of Terrorism (AML-CFT) by October 2019 or face actions against it.

“We regard the statement issued by India regarding the FATF report as preposterous and unwarranted,” Pakistan’s Foreign Office said in a statement on Saturday.

“If anything, this is yet another evidence of India’s relentless efforts to politicise the deliberations of FATF for its narrow, partisan objectives.”

Pakistan again highlighted its concerns regarding India’s political statements and media leaks to cast Pakistan in a negative light and plead for its downgrading.

“We hope the broader FATF membership would take cognizance of this continuing malicious campaign and reject any attempt aimed at politicisation of the FATF process by India,” read the official communiqué.

The FATF has Pakistan on its “grey list” of countries with inadequate controls over curbing money laundering and terrorism financing. But India wants Pakistan blacklisted, which would likely result in sanctions.

The next meeting of the FATF is scheduled to take place in Paris in October where the body will review Pakistan’s case and decide what action can be taken if member countries still find the progress unsatisfactory.

Following the FATF ultimatum, the finance ministry said the government committed to take all necessary measures to ensure completion of the action plan in a timely manner.

It insisted that the FATF acknowledged the steps taken by Pakistan to improve its AML/CFT regime and highlighted the need for further actions to implement the action plan.