ISLAMABAD: The Foreign Office (FO) has asserted India’s statement on Pakistan’s grey-listing by Financial Action Task Force (FATF) had vindicated Pakistan’s longstanding stance on “India’s negative role” in the global financial watchdog.
According to a statement issued today (Monday), FO Spokesperson Zahid Hafeez Chaudhri said that India foreign minister’s statement had exposed India’s “true colours” and “duplicitous” role.
“Pakistan has always been highlighting to the international community the politicisation of FATF and undermining of its processes by India. The recent Indian statement is just further corroboration of its continued efforts to use an important technical forum for its narrow political designs against Pakistan,” he said.
“While Pakistan has been sincerely and constructively engaged with FATF during the implementation of the action plan, India has left no stone unturned in casting doubts on Pakistan’s progress through disgraceful means,” said the FO statement.
The spokesperson further said Pakistan would continue exposing India’s role to the international community by bringing the recent “confession” to the FATF’s and international community’s notice.
The statement said that Pakistan was also considering approaching the financial watchdog for appropriate action in the matter. “Following the recent confession by the Indian government, India’s credentials for assessing Pakistan in FATF as co-chair of the Joint Group or for that matter any other country are subject to questions, which we urge FATF to look into,” it added.
The FO said Pakistan’s “immense progress” in Anti-Money Laundering/Combating the Financing of Terrorism (AML/CFT) had been demonstrated through “concrete, tangible and verifiable actions” that were acknowledged by FATF.
“Despite distractions including politicisation of FATF processes by certain jurisdictions, Pakistan reaffirms its commitment to bring its AML/CFT systems to international standards for its own good and also to fulfil its international obligations and commitments,” the statement concluded.
Modi govt ‘ensured’ Pakistan remains on grey list
A day ago, India finally admitted that Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s government “ensured” that Pakistan remained on the grey list of the Financial Action Task Force (FATF).
“Due to us, Pakistan is under the lens of FATF and it was kept in the grey list,” ANI news agency quoted External Affairs Minister (MEA) S Jaishankar as saying.
Addressing Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) leaders, Jaishankar claimed that India was successful in “pressurising” the neighbouring country via the FATF, saying that Pakistan “changed” its behaviour due to the measures taken by the Modi government.
“Modi made personal efforts on global forums like G7 and G20 to keep Pakistan on the list”, the Indian minister said.
