Terror-financing watchdog says Pakistan not complying with curbs

Pakistan is still under the scanner of the Financial Action Task Force (FATF), an international watchdog tracking terror financing, saying that Islamabad is not fully complying with curbs against terror entities listed with the United Nations.

Pakistani officials, however, insist that they have taken significant steps against terror financing and would continue to do whatever is required for the implementation of sanctions against entities designated under the UNSCR 1267.

Tehreek-e-Azadi Jammu and Kashmir (TAJK), a front formed by Hafiz Saeed was quietly banned by the Pakistan government against the backdrop of mounting pressure on Islamabad from an international watchdog.

Pakistan's National Counter-Terrorism Authority added TAJK to the list of organisations proscribed by the interior ministry on June 8.

At a meeting held last week in Valencia, Spain, the FATF referred Pakistan to its regional affiliate, Asia/Pacific Group on Money Laundering (APG), for further analysis and a follow-up report.FATF's International Cooperation Review Group (ICRG), has requested the APG to provide the revised follow-up report on Pakistan after discussing it at its (APG's) annual meeting scheduled for July.

Hafiz Saeed was placed under house arrest on Jan 30, ahead of the FATF meeting in February. Asia/Pacific Group on Money Laundering reported that: "there continue to be certain UNSCR 1267 designated entities that receive and disperse funds without controls being applied by the competent authorities."

The Lashkar-e-Taiba, the JuD's military outfit, the Jaish-e-Mohammed and Pakistani Taliban are also among the 65 organisations banned by the interior ministry. It was, once again, deemed insufficient to clear the ICRG's doubts and Pakistan's case was sent back to the APG

The ICRG further decided to ask Pakistan for its compliance report on the implementation of UNSCR 1267 in case the APG decided against sending a revised report, the Dawn reported. It should be recalled that on previous occasions, the APG had sent its un-adopted report to the ICRG. The ICRG would once again take up Pakistan's case at its meeting in October.As per the report, certain entities designated under UN Security Council Resolution 1267 continue to receive and disperse funds without controls being applied by the competent authorities in Pakistan.

The Pakistan government has taken a number of measures to squelch terror financing, including freezing over 100 bank accounts of UN-listed entities and individuals. But India along with some other countries remain concerned about inadequate action against terror groups and terrorists There have also been concerns about fund-raising and seminaries run by the Jaish-e-Muhammad.

-ANI