Pakistan seeks FATF action against India for 'sponsoring terrorism'

FM Qureshi says the money-laundering watchdog would appear as a political forum if action not taken against New Delhi

ISLAMABAD:

Foreign Minister Shah Mahmood Qureshi has urged the Financial Action Task Force (FATF) to take action against India for sponsoring terrorism in Pakistan.

In a statement on Sunday, the foreign minister said evidence of Indian state sponsored terrorism unveiled by Islamabad last year once against vindicated after investigation concluded Lahore’s Johar Town blast was orchestrated by the intelligence agency, Research and Anlaysis Wing (RAW).

He expressed the confidence that global money laundering watchdog would take action against India after evaluating these vital evidences.

“Is not a responsibility of the FATF to hold India accountable for its terror financing? If any action is not taken, then it will show dual standards,” the minister added.

He said that it is Pakistan's right to raise voice against such double standards. If FATF did not take any notice of India’s financing of terrorism, then it would appear that the forum is a political forum and not a technical one.

Also read: Indian RAW orchestrated Lahore terrorist attack: NSA

Qureshi lauded efforts of the investigation agencies, counter-terrorism department, agencies and Punjab police for showing their professionalism in unearthing the elements involved in the heinous Johar Town blast.

The foreign minister said that he along with the National Security Adviser Moeed Yusuf had held a presser some time back, in which they had shared their concerns with the world community.

The world was provided with evidences over Indian training of terrorists and supply of weapons, besides its terror financing, he added.

Qureshi said they had sent dossier of evidences to the United Nations, ambassadors of P-5 countries, diplomatic community and media.

If the earlier evidences were taken seriously by them, terror incidents like the one in Johar Town, Lahore and several other terrorist acts in Balochistan would not have taken place, he added.

The minister also reiterated that Pakistan had taken steps against money-laundering and terror financing through effective legislation.