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Anti-Terror Agency Keeps Pakistan on 'Gray List'

Ayaz Gul

   ISLAMABAD - A global agency leading the fight against the financing of
   terrorism and money laundering has kept Pakistan on its "gray list" of
   nations with inadequate mechanisms to curb funding sources to terrorist
   groups.

   The Financial Action Task Force (FATF) met Friday at its headquarters
   in Paris and reviewed Islamabad's commitments under an action plan
   agreed to with the international agency. It decided to keep Pakistan
   off its blacklist in the wake of "recent and notable improvements,"
   giving the country four months to deliver on its remaining commitments.

   In a post-meeting statement, however, the FATF saidthatwhile it
   recognizedprogress made by Islamabad, itwas concerned about the failure
   to complete the action plan to reduce money laundering and terrorist
   financing risks.

   "The FATF strongly urges Pakistan to swiftly complete its full action
   plan by June 2020," said the global agency. "Otherwise, should
   significant and sustainable progress, especially in prosecuting and
   penalizing TF[terrorism financing]not be made by the next plenary, the
   FATF will take action."

   Call for special scrutiny

   The watchdog group said punitive action could include the FATF calling
   on member states and urging all jurisdictions to give special attention
   to investment-related business relations and transactions with
   Pakistan.

   "FATF members agreed to maintain Pakistan's status on FATF's Compliance
   Document, normally referred[to]as the gray list," the Pakistani
   government said in a statement issued after the Paris meeting.

   Pakistan was placed on the "gray list" in 2018 for a lack of adequate
   controls over terrorism financing, which made foreign firms more
   cautious about investing in the South Asian nation.

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