In a major setback for Pakistan, the Financial Action Task Force (FATF) has retained Pakistan on the “grey list” till February next year, after Islamabad failed to comply with the 27-point action plan set by the global terror financing watchdog.
According to reports, Turkey has backed Pakistan and proposed that members should consider Pakistan’s good work till date.
Pakistan, already facing severe economic and financial crisis, has been in the grey list since 2018.
Being in the grey list makes it difficult for the already debt-ridden Islamic Republic to get financial aid from international agencies.
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India has been persistently protesting against Pakistan’s continued cross-border terrorism in Kashmir and its inaction against the mastermind and planners of the 26/11 Mumbai terror attacks.
The banned terror outfits, Lashkar-e-Taiba, Jaish-e-Mohammad and Hizbul Mujahideen, and their chiefs Hafiz Saeed, Masood Azhar and Syed Salahuddin, continue to get state patronage and protection in Pakistan.
A report of the United Nations Security Council released earlier this year said the three terror groups are collaborating with Al Qaeda and Taliban in Afghanistan.
India on Thursday had strongly recommended that Pakistan, which continues to provide safe havens to the banned terror groups, should continue on the grey list.
On Friday, after concluding its three-day virtual plenary session, the FATF decided to keep Pakistan in its grey list. Sources said Pakistan had failed to comply with at least six of the 27 points in the FATF’s action plan.
