Needs single minded focus
The government’s crackdown on banned outfits has come at a very crucial time. Suddenly it has become the number one concern. Even bigger than the economy. For one thing, if timely progress is not made and FATF delivers the axe, we will be immediately shut out of the international lending regime. And all the desperate steps put in place to prevent economic collapse will blow up in smoke. For another, these steps are also essential to protect Pakistan’s political standing.
Once the smoke from the recent confrontation with India clears, we should expect the international community to raise yet more questions about militant groups, safe havens, alleged official support, etc. And, given how even our closest friends stood on the other side at FATF, we will clearly have to come up with new, and more quantifiable, answers if we are to stay afloat economically as well as politically.
Then there is the question of Iran. President Rouhani was very clear in his phone call with PM Imran Khan. But Islamabad’s assurance that the right steps are being taken will now need clear evidence to calm yet another anxious and angry neighbour.
Therefore this crackdown will need single minded focus and determination. At stake is far more than just getting past a deadline. Even if we move enough pieces on the board to survive FATF, there will be consequences internally if the job is left half-done. This process will be long and tiresome. These are the first steps in untying a very complex knot. How well we achieve this task will determine how we move forward as country and how our friends and neighbours treat us.