Exhortation: Riyadh urged to help choke terror money
Nisar, Saudi diplomat deliberate on how to stop support to banned outfits
Interior ministry officials approached the Saudi Embassy in Islamabad to discuss matters related to the Saudi funding of madrassahs/mosques. PHOTO: AFP
ISLAMABAD:
Islamabad has approached Riyadh, calling for a fresh clampdown on organisations and individuals financing sectarian and banned outfits operating in Pakistan.
On the advice of Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif, the interior ministry approached the Saudi Embassy in Islamabad seeking an urgent meeting between Interior Minister Chaudhry Nisar Ali Khan and the top diplomat of the ‘brotherly’ country. The agenda was to discuss matters related to the funding of Madaris and mosques by Saudi philanthropists, interior ministry officials said.
“A senior Saudi diplomat met Interior Minister Chaudhry Nisar today (Wednesday). Both have deliberated how to stop financial support of banned outfits from Saudi Arabia, among other issues,” a senior official of the interior ministry told The Express Tribune.
He recalled that a group of experts has already recommended to the National Action Plan Committee that Tehran, Riyadh, and the UAE should be asked to stop funding religious groups that are banned in Pakistan.
Nisar, in light of the NAP committee’s proposals, shared intelligence agencies’ reports on foreign funding to various religious groups banned in Pakistan with Saudi Arabia’s Acting Ambassador Jassim M al Khalid, the official said.
Further, Saudi Arabia’s $1 million grant for the maintenance and renovation of Faisal Mosque also came under discussion.
After meeting the Saudi diplomat, Nisar briefed the premier about the latest development on Madaris and school reforms, as well as on the holistic and speedy implementation of NAP’s 20 points, interior ministry officials said. Nisar also updated the premier about his meeting with the Saudi diplomat on resolving terror funding issue, they added.
Security analyst Imtiaz Gul said that Saudi Arabia and other Gulf states could help Pakistan get rid of elements being funded by Saudi philanthropists in his opinion.
Riyadh, UAE and other Arab countries could form new laws to regulate private donations which are believed to be misused by extremist groups, Gul observed.
Published in The Express Tribune, January 15th, 2015.
Islamabad has approached Riyadh, calling for a fresh clampdown on organisations and individuals financing sectarian and banned outfits operating in Pakistan.
On the advice of Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif, the interior ministry approached the Saudi Embassy in Islamabad seeking an urgent meeting between Interior Minister Chaudhry Nisar Ali Khan and the top diplomat of the ‘brotherly’ country. The agenda was to discuss matters related to the funding of Madaris and mosques by Saudi philanthropists, interior ministry officials said.
“A senior Saudi diplomat met Interior Minister Chaudhry Nisar today (Wednesday). Both have deliberated how to stop financial support of banned outfits from Saudi Arabia, among other issues,” a senior official of the interior ministry told The Express Tribune.
He recalled that a group of experts has already recommended to the National Action Plan Committee that Tehran, Riyadh, and the UAE should be asked to stop funding religious groups that are banned in Pakistan.
Nisar, in light of the NAP committee’s proposals, shared intelligence agencies’ reports on foreign funding to various religious groups banned in Pakistan with Saudi Arabia’s Acting Ambassador Jassim M al Khalid, the official said.
Further, Saudi Arabia’s $1 million grant for the maintenance and renovation of Faisal Mosque also came under discussion.
After meeting the Saudi diplomat, Nisar briefed the premier about the latest development on Madaris and school reforms, as well as on the holistic and speedy implementation of NAP’s 20 points, interior ministry officials said. Nisar also updated the premier about his meeting with the Saudi diplomat on resolving terror funding issue, they added.
Security analyst Imtiaz Gul said that Saudi Arabia and other Gulf states could help Pakistan get rid of elements being funded by Saudi philanthropists in his opinion.
Riyadh, UAE and other Arab countries could form new laws to regulate private donations which are believed to be misused by extremist groups, Gul observed.
Published in The Express Tribune, January 15th, 2015.