New Delhi to present alleged evidence of terror-linked figures appearing openly in public ahead of October plenary in Paris….reports Asian Lite News Desk
India is preparing to present fresh evidence before the Financial Action Task Force (FATF), alleging that Pakistan continues to provide space and legitimacy to individuals linked to banned terror outfits despite earlier commitments to curb terror financing.
According to official sources, Indian agencies have compiled videos and other material purportedly showing individuals associated with proscribed organisations participating openly in public events in Pakistan. The evidence is expected to be presented during the next FATF review process, scheduled to take place in Paris from October 26 to 30.
Pakistan was removed from the FATF’s Grey List in 2022 after implementing an action plan and assuring the global watchdog that it would strengthen measures against terror financing and money laundering. However, Indian officials claim recent developments raise questions over Islamabad’s continued compliance with those commitments.
Officials allege that Pakistan is following a pattern similar to that adopted earlier with Jamaat-ud-Dawa (JuD), an organisation that India says functioned as the financial wing of the Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT). JuD’s activities had previously drawn scrutiny from the FATF during Pakistan’s Grey List monitoring.
According to the officials, Pakistan is now promoting the Pakistan Markazi Muslim League (PMML), which they describe as being affiliated with the LeT. They claim the political platform is being used to project individuals linked to banned organisations as legitimate political figures.
As part of the evidence being compiled, officials referred to videos showing the president of the Islamabad chapter of the PMML attending the funeral of the brother of former Pakistan cricketer Shoaib Akhtar alongside Hafiz Talha Saeed, son of LeT founder Hafiz Saeed, and LeT deputy Saifullah Kasauri.
An Intelligence Bureau official, speaking on condition of anonymity, alleged that the PMML serves as a front through which internationally designated terrorists are able to appear publicly while being portrayed as political leaders.
Officials said Indian agencies are collecting publicly available videos and material circulated through channels allegedly linked to the PMML and Lashkar-e-Taiba to support their case before the FATF.
Another official alleged that despite repeated warnings from the FATF regarding terror financing, Pakistan continues to allow individuals linked to proscribed organisations to participate openly in public events, thereby attempting to legitimise them through political platforms.
The officials also pointed to what they described as a recurring pattern in which serving military and intelligence personnel have attended funerals of individuals accused of terrorism, arguing that such public appearances undermine Pakistan’s commitments to combat terror financing.
India maintains that Pakistan continues to support and provide legitimacy to terrorist organisations and intends to highlight these concerns before the international watchdog during the upcoming FATF plenary.
Pakistan has consistently denied allegations of supporting terrorist groups and maintains that it has taken significant steps to dismantle terror financing networks and comply with FATF requirements. Islamabad has also stated that its removal from the Grey List reflects international recognition of those efforts.
The FATF plenary and Working Group meetings are scheduled to be held in Paris, France, from October 26 to 30, where member countries will review global efforts to combat money laundering, terror financing and the financing of weapons proliferation.
