The Pakistan Foreign office vehemently denied Indian Defence Minister Rajnath Singh’s recent remarks about Islamabad’s position with the Financial Action Task Force (FATF). Singh had earlier stated that the FATF can any time blacklist Pakistan.
“Pakistan rejects the recent comments made by the Indian Defence Minister claiming that “FATF can any time blacklist Pakistan…”. The statement reinforces Pakistan’s concerns, repeatedly highlighted to the FATF membership, about India’s attempts to politicise the FATF proceedings to further its narrow, partisan objectives,” read the FO statement.
“India’s incessant smear against Pakistan and blatant partisanship also call into question its credentials to be co-chair of the Asia-Pacific Joint Group that reviews Pakistan’s progress to implement the FATF Action Plan,” the FO said, adding that these concerns have been previously brought to the attention of FATF members.
“It is important for FATF to ensure that the process remains fair and unbiased,” said the FO.
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The Indian defence minister’s provocative statement and Pakistan’s rebuttal come just days before the FATF plenary meetings scheduled to be held in Paris from October 13 to 18.
According to the recently released final Mutual Evaluation Report of the Asia Pacific Group (APG), Pakistan faces high risks of money laundering and terror financing and it needs to improve the understanding of these risks that are also animating from various terrorist groups operating in the country.
