Huge win for India, global watchdog demands report from Pakistan over terror funding

NEW DELHI: In a big diplomatic win for India, a global watchdog has asked Pakistan to do more to freeze assets of terror outfits like Lashkar-e-Toiba and Jamaat-ud Dawa.

This came after India's latest bid to designate Jaish-e-Mohammad chief Masood Azhar a terrorist was foiled by China at the United Nation Security Council.

The Financial Action Task Force (FATF) has sought from Pakistan a compliance report by February 2018 on action taken by Islamabad against terror groups like LeT and JuD.

This decision was taken on Thursday at the Buenos Aires plenary of the FATF, where India raised the issue at the International Cooperation Review Group (ICRG) meet.

As per reports, China attempted to be a roadblock again at the Buenos Aires plenary of the FATF, but failed. Since two speaking countries are needed to block a consensus, China was isolated.

India has been raising the issue of Pakistan's blatant support to terrorists and terrorist groups at all international forums.

After the FTP's submission of the report, the ICRG noted that "Pakistan made some progress to implement UNSCR 1267. However, concerns related to UNSCR 1267 remain, specifically that designated individuals and entities of concern continue to receive and disperse funds without controls being applied by the competent authorities."

Earlier this year, the FATF at its meeting in Spain had slammed Pakistan for continued complicity in financing terrorist entities. 

The FATF was established in 1989 to set standards and promote effective implementation of legal, regulatory and operational measures for combating money laundering, terrorist financing and combat other related threats to the international financial system. It has developed a series of recommendations that are recognised as the international standard for combating money laundering and the financing of terrorism.