U.S. wants to put Islamabad back on terror finance list

Pakistan accused of not doing enough to cut off militants.

stan,” Ismail said by telephone. “I think they’re listening to us and I’m more than hopeful we won’t be gray-listed.”

But his optimistic tone faded as he recalled a meeting with U.S. Treasury offiThe United States has indicials this month. The Pakicated that it will seek to place stani delegation walked away Pakistan on a watch list of with the impression that countries that are not doing “they are still going to put enough to counter terrorism us on the gray list,” he said, financing, threatening Islam- calling the Trump adminisabad with global isolation, tration’s foreign policy inconaccording to a senior Pakisistent. stani official. That would undermine

The United States is likely moderates in the country, to introduce the motion he said. next week in Paris, where “We’ll have egg on our the Financial Action Task faces,” Ismail added. “We Force, a global body created pushed for these reforms, to fight terrorism financing although many thought we and money laundering, will wouldn’t be successful changvote on the matter, the offi- ing Washington’s behavior.” cial, Miftah Ismail, a financial A State Departm e nt adviser to Pakistan’s prime spokesman said that the minister, said. United States welcomed

Pakistan was on the list Pakistan’s efforts against from 2012 to 2015, and offi- the groups tied to Lashkarcials worry that being added e-Taiba, but that it sought again could hinder the coun- additional information on try’s access to international what “concrete steps” were markets as it prepares to being taken to deprive them repay roughly $3 billion in of financing. The spokesdebt this summer. man said the Paris meeting

In an effort to stave off would determine the next returning to the list, Pakistan steps on Pakistan. has quietly adopted sancPresident Donald Trump’s tions against two groups that increasingly hawkish stance the United States accuses of on Pakistan has left officials being fronts for the militant in the South Asian country group Lashkar-e-Taiba, movworried that it could become ing to seize their schools, politically isolated. Previambulances and other assets ous administrations have this week. The United States tried to force Islamabad to has been trying for years cut off support for extremist to get Islamabad to move organizations that operate in against Lashkar-e-Taiba, Pakistan and cross the borwhich India accuses of being der into Afghanistan, where behind the 2008 terrorist they attack U.S.-led forces. attacks in Mumbai that shut Civilian officials in Pakidown the city for several stan’s government say pridays and killed more than vately that they are eager 160 people. to clamp down on insurgent

“We’re talking to the U.S. groups, but that the military and trying to get them not to and its powerful intelligence take any action against Paki- wing may not comply.

Maria Abi Habib