Days after Prime Minister Narendra Modi reinforced India’s position against terrorism in a congratulatory message to Pakistan’s new premier Shehbaz Sharif, New Delhi has once again intensified its efforts to draw attention of the global community to Islamabad’s failure to take effective and irreversible actions against terrorists and terror organisations operating from the territories under its control.
As part of this “much wider” campaign, India has chosen to reach out to two major global forums with fresh inputs and documents, namely Financial Action Task Force (FATF) and the United Nations.
Officials in diplomatic and security establishments told The Daily Guardian that “some high-level meetings will be taking place soon with the officials of FATF and the UN in this regard.” “A proper dossier of Pakistan-based terrorists involved in anti-India activities will be handed over to the officials in both the forums,” sources added.
The two major developments over the last few days are being seen as an important indicator about the intensification of India’s campaign at high levels. First, Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) listed seven Pakistan based terrorists under the Unlawful Activities Prevention Act (UAPA). “This would definitely be part of the dossiers being prepared to be handed over to the UN and FATF officials,” sources said.
Secondly, while participating in an FATF ministerial meet in Washington two days back, Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman extended support to the global terror funding watchdog to deal with money laundering, terrorist financing and financing of proliferation of weapons of mass destruction. “This should also be seen as part of India’s strategy to be more actively involved in FATF activities keeping in mind the terror financing by Pakistan,” sources said.
“Sitharaman’s remarks hint at New Delhi’s renewed attempt to start more frequent exchanges and meetings with FATF officials that will enable India to share more inputs with the Paris based global forum,” sources said, adding that India wants FATF to turn more heat on Islamabad for its failure to deal effectively with the terrorists operating out of Pakistan.
Increased interactions between Indian diplomats with FATF officials are being sought in view of the June meet of the global terror watchdog where Pakistan’s case will be taken up. Pakistan continues to be on the grey list of FATF.
At the FATF ministerial meet in Washington, Sitharaman also reaffirmed India’s political commitment to fighting money laundering and terrorist financing. She also appreciated the role of FATF global network in safeguarding the global financial system.
Sitharaman extended support to the strategic priorities and reiterated India’s commitment to provide necessary resources and support to FATF in its endeavour against money laundering, terrorist financing, etc.
The MHA designating seven more Pakistan based terrorists under UAPA is being seen as a crucial move which will help India immensely to put pressure on Islamabad at the international forums. This will also help the diplomatic team to ensure that FATF continues to see through Islamabad’s design to project its cosmetic actions as serious efforts to eliminate terrorism from its territories.