All Islamabad’s diplomatic efforts ended without yielding any positive outcomes as 35-member Financial Action Task Force (FATF) has placed Pakistan in its grey list for allegedly financing terrorists but another embarrassment Pakistan suffered that its two strongest allies China and Saudi Arabia also withdrew their support to Pakistan at the last hour.
The decision came after a three-day long deliberation over a US-backed motion ended in FATF meeting in Paris on Friday, according to Reuters news agency.
However the official statement from the FATF is yet to be made.
No official intimation of #FATF decision yet. We should not speculate till official statement is released.
— Ahsan Iqbal (@betterpakistan) February 23, 2018
In addition, the statement of outcomes of the FATF Plenary meeting held in Paris from February 21-23, 2018, Pakistan was not mentioned among Countries which were found with strategic deficiencies.
Earlier the foreign news agency reported that by Thursday night China and the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) along with Turkey were opposing the US motion against Pakistan but on Friday they dropped their opposition.
The embattled Pakistan has already been struggling in all fronts from terrorism to economy, and now its re-inclusion in FATF’s watchlist would surely bring more devastating impact for the South Asian Country.
Terror financing allegations: How it can affect Pakistan if it is placed in FATF grey list
Since the motion placed at Paris meeting of FATA – a global money-laundering watchdog – was sponsored by the United States and duly supported by the United Kingdom and Germany; Pakistan’s already strained ties with the US may now become even more tense.
It is worth mentioning here that Pakistan’s Foreign Minister Khawaja Asif apprised on February 20 via twitter that Pakistan had been given a three-month reprieve by the FATF after its members failed to reach a consensus on the US motion which, if adopted, would severely affect Pakistan economically as its all foreign financial dealings would go under strict scrutiny and halt foreign investment into the Country to a larger extent.
Our efforts paid,FATF Paris 20Feb meeting conclusion on US led motion to put Pakistan on watch list
-No consensus for nominating Pakistan
-proposing 3months pause &asking APG for another report to b considered in June الحمداللہ
Grateful to friends who helped— Khawaja M. Asif (@KhawajaMAsif) February 20, 2018
Now after Pakistan has been placed in FATA’s grey list as per the watchdog’s recommendation, another scrutiny would be carried out in June 2018 with regards to Pakistan’s measures against terrorist financing and money laundering.
A top official has confirmed that Pakistan has lost it battle at the FTAF. From June Pakistan will be placed in the list of countries suspected for terror financing.Further blow to us is the alarming fact that even China sided with the world and abandoned us
— Kamran Khan (@AajKamranKhan) February 23, 2018
Pak back on FATF GreyList. Loses to Wshngtn-Delhi moves as China&KSA go quiet in the 2nd round of voting.After 3 months another scrutiny on the cards. All activities of banned groups at home in the last few months pushed us over the edge. A sorry day tht shud force serious debate
— Syed Talat Hussain (@TalatHussain12) February 23, 2018
We send our army for Saudi Arabia’s defense and give China our land for trade corridor and in return they backed out in our difficult time. Pakistanis have given more sacrifices than any other country to fight terrorism but our government and establishment has let us down #FATF
— Mubashir Zaidi (@Xadeejournalist) February 23, 2018
Despite our FO spokesman putting a bureaucratic spin on it, the news coming out of Paris are NOT good. We have been greylisted.
— Murtaza Solangi (@murtazasolangi) February 23, 2018
