- They must revisit their approach
In view of the deteriorating relations with US and her continued strategy to keep Pakistan under pressure notwithstanding the fact that it had taken indiscriminate action against all the terrorist outfits based in North Waziristan and had suffered the most in this war, it was very much expected that America would also use its influence on international organisations such as FATF to keep Pakistan on the tenterhooks. That was exactly what happened in its meeting in Paris that concluded on 29th of June when the FATF decided to put Pakistan on the grey list and handed down a demand list of 26 items to be acted upon until its next meeting in September 2019. The motion sponsored by US was voted upon by 37 countries. The FATF decision, besides being a political embarrassment for Pakistan, is likely to have financial and economic implications for her as well.
The new demands also include expected action by Pakistan to curb smuggling of currency by terrorist groups across the Afghanistan border, banning certain groups and freezing their accounts as well as ensuring compliance with international standards for every banking transaction.
The reality is that Pakistan has been a sincere partner in the war on terror and has not only dismantled the infrastructure of all the terrorist outfits based in North Waziristan but has also been faithfully engaged in eliminating the remnants of their supporters within the country. The government seized the offices and bank accounts of militant groups like Jamaatud Dawa and other groups and also banned them. It also took all possible administrative and legal measure to check and block the sources of funding to the terrorist organizations. Pakistan promulgated a Presidential Ordinance to amend the anti-terror legislation in order to include all UN-listed individuals and groups in the national listings of proscribed outfits and persons. Securities and Exchange Commission of Pakistan (SECP) also took measures in keeping with the FATF regulations and on June 20, issued Anti-Money Laundering and Countering Financing of Terrorism Regulations 2018.
The new policy on Afghanistan and South Asia announced by Trump is a perfect recipe for disaster and perpetuation of the conflict in Afghanistan
The government had also chalked out a comprehensive plan to eradicate terrorist financing which was shared with the international watch-dog. Pakistan also has been cooperating with FATF and a similar assurance was also extended to it by the finance minister which enjoyed the backing of the National Security Council. The FATF decision is reflective of the US rhetoric of do more. It is also indicative of how much influence US can exercise on world bodies like FATF.
It would perhaps be pertinent to point out that in addition to taking legal and administrative measures to squeeze the sources of funding to the terrorists outfits, the government of Pakistan through the ministry of information and broadcasting has been running a campaign through the media to educate the people about giving their donations to charities and religious organizations by exercising utmost discretion about their credentials, which has had quite an impact.
The misgivings being expressed regarding Pakistan’s commitment in that regard are logically and factually wrong. The scourge of terrorism has affected Pakistan more than any other country in terms of the lives lost and the economic losses. So logically speaking the continued skepticism expressed by the US, its allies and the international agencies under their influence is not justified. Pakistan will be the last country not to take all possible measures to get rid of the menace of terrorism and choking the funds of the terrorist outfits. Pakistan is doing it to protect its own interests and it does not need to be coerced or intimidated by any international agency or power to do so.
The pressure being exerted on Pakistan is also factually wrong in view of what it has done in North Waziristan and its unilateral decision to fence the border between Pakistan and Afghanistan to prevent cross-border movement of the terrorists. Its record on promoting Afghan-led and Afghan-owned reconciliation in Afghanistan is also a ranting testimony of its sincerity and commitment to tackle terrorism and ending the conflict in that country.
The US and its allies, instead of blaming Pakistan for their failures in Afghanistan, need to review their own policies and actions which are responsible for their failure to establish peace in Afghanistan and the elimination of terrorism in the region. If the US is really interested in elimination of terrorism and feels that Pakistan has a vital role in that regard then it has to adopt a realistic approach and instead of unnecessarily putting it under pressure it should accept the ground realities and assist her in the efforts to eliminate terrorism. It is a fight which can be won only through collective efforts of the international community and the US showing real commitment in that regard.
The new policy on Afghanistan and South Asia announced by Trump is a perfect recipe for disaster and perpetuation of the conflict in Afghanistan as is quite evident from exponential increase in terrorist attacks by the Taliban and its affiliate bodies ever since its announcement. If the US and its allies expect Pakistan to play a role, they shall also have to be mindful of her strategic interests as well and remove the scepter of skepticism and mistrust against her.
Success in blocking and choking the sources of funding to the terrorist groups very much depends on political solution to the conflict in Afghanistan. So long as the war in Afghanistan continues the terrorist outfits would find new ways of gathering finances for them and one must not forget that there are thousands of supporters of the narrative of the terrorist entities on both sides of the border which imparts complexity to the whole effort. Eliminating terrorism and squeezing funding for terrorist organisations is going to take long and collective patient effort recognising the existing ground realities. Choosing Pakistan as a fall guy and keeping her under pressure is not going to resolve the issue. The USA and its allies need to revisit their approach and stance towards Pakistan.