‘ Timing of Pak move on Saeed suspicious’
India on Friday described as “suspect” the “timing” of Pakistan’s recent action of declaring Mumbai terror attack Hafiz Saeed as a terrorist, adding that some countries in the global Financial Action Task Force ( FATF) are engaged in a move to put Pakistan in the “grey list”. Countries are placed in the “grey list” if they fail to act on assurances given by them to combat terrorism. The FATF is a global inter- governmental body to combat terror financing.
Describing Hafiz Saeed as the “prime organiser” of the Mumbai terror attacks, the MEA spokesperson said, “Timing of such declaration of Hafiz Saeed as a terrorist is very suspect. We have to see whether they are willing to walk the talk and take concrete measures against terrorists and terror outfits that are operating from the soil of Pakistan”.
He added, “There is a proposal by some countries according to the FATF process to put Pakistan in the grey list. The grey listing happens because the commitment given by Pakistan on action it was supposed to take ( against terrorism) has not happened. We have shared our views with other countries in FATF in this regard. We would like to ensure that the Government of Pakistan takes effective measures in letter and spirit to curb terrorfinancing, to curb raising of funds by UN- proscribed terrorists and other terrorists operating from their soil.”
An FATF report last year is believed to have also highlighted that there continue to be certain “UNSCR 1267 designated entities” ( terror entities) in Pakistan that receive and disperse funds without controls being applied by the competent authorities.
The report is understood to have stated, “In February 2017, the ICRG requested the Asia Pacific Group ( APG) to provide its analysis report on Pakistan. Given the concerns raised in this report that highlighted that there continue to be certain UNSCR 1267 designated entities that receive and disperse funds without controls being applied by the competent authorities, the ICRG recommends further reporting to the ICRG be provided either by the APG or, failing that, directly from Pakistan.”