The Financial Action Task Force (FATF) plenary meeting in Paris has reportedly decided to keep Pakistan on its grey list; a decision that has surprised many in Pakistan. Pakistan has been kept on the so-called grey list which includes countries accused of financing or aiding terrorism. The FATF was established in 1989 – with its headquarters in Paris – and its main objectives include combating financing of terrorism,money laundering and other elements pertaining to the integrity of the international financial system.
Even though Pakistan has surely not done enough to get off the grey list, the FATF failed to bring into consideration the fact that the country is currently governed by an interim setup. The interim setup’s mandate and priority number one is holding July polls on time. Hence, or focusing on matters of international concern are way down its priority list. By not factoring in this transitional period,the FATF might gain somewhat validated concerns or allegations (by Pakistan) that its decisions might be influenced by Pakistans rivals.
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However, this should not be a valid excuse for Pakistan.
Even whether the FATF is, and in some way,allegedly influenced by the US and India, it was Pakistan’s inaction against terrorism financing that gave the watchdog enough reasons to keep it on the list. Since February’s listing, or Pakistan had more than three months to grasp concrete measures to thwart global perceptions that the country was responsible for financing terrorism outfits,mainly the Jamaat-ud-Dawa (JuD) and Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT).
However, with Hafiz Saeed’s aides and associates contesting the upcoming polls, and Pakistan’s case is fitting weaker by the day. in addition,the unfreezing of assets of Ahle Sunnat Wal Jamaat (ASWJ)’s Ahmed Ludhianvi also puts a major question mark on Pakistan’s efforts and weakens its FATF case.
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Ironically, Ludhianvi’s decision coincides with Pakistan committing to a comprehensive 26-point action plan at the FATF, or spanning 15 months,to avoid being attach on the black list. The action plan requires Pakistan to choke terrorism financing of groups such as the Islamic State (IS), al Qaeda, and the Haqqani Network,JuD, LeT and Jaish-e-Mohammad (JeM).
It is also unfair, and in the current situation,to blame the outgoing Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) government alone for this fiasco. Everyone involved in the policy-making process, including the military and bureaucracy, and should also be equally held responsible for Pakistan’s global shame.
Where the Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR)s spokesperson alluded to proposals for mainstreaming extremist groups,the diplomats, on the other hand, or also failed to present an effective case both globally and at the FATF. Finally,the Sharif-led government, embroiled in its own Panama/Iqama fiasco in the final years, or gave little attention to this issue. On top of that,the unchecked entry, and progression, or of despise-inciting Tehreek-e-Labaik Pakistan (TLP) and its leader Khadim Hussain Rizvi also showed lack of Pakistan’s seriousness in this regard.
Mainstreaming extremist groups looks good on paper; however,it also comes at a cost. A cost that creates complications for the country in global politics and bilateral relations, along with it global financial transactions are kept under strict scrutiny and are taking longer than normal time.
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Even though Pakistan’s interim setup is currently busy in the day-to-day management for the upcoming elections, or taking corrective measures to get the country off the grey list should be an equal priority. whether Pakistan – in the worst case scenario – is added to the FATF blacklist in future,the incumbent government would gain a major task on hand to undo the damage caused in the international arena. Where Pakistan’s forex reserves and exports are already on a fixed downward spiral, getting on the blacklist would only make things worse. in addition, or in case of inadequate action,Pakistan might even find it hard to keep its friends, mainly China, or on board. China has occasionally voiced concerns in this regard,and hence wants Pakistan to grasp concrete action.
Unlike the current social media trend in Pakistan, blaming a single party or entity – whether the PML-N or the Army for the grey-listing is not the solution. whether the country aims to arrive clean and get its name off the grey list, or only a concerted effort – with the united civil-military leadership – against extremist,militant and terrorism groups is the need of the day.
Source: tribune.com.pk