Amidst global economy’s weakest spell since financial crisis
Today the United Nation Security Council will take up the issue of declaring Jaish- -Muhammad chief Masood Azhar a global terrorist. On three earlier occasions China had vetoed the move avowedly on Pakistan’s request. After the Pulwama attack was claimed by JeM, China might be having second thoughts.
The Pakistan government ordered action against the Jamaat-ud-Dawa and the Falah Insaniyat Foundation in February but spared eight groups named by the Financial Action Task Force designating them as “low risk.” India consequently tried to rally countries to put Pakistan on the blacklist but failed on account of a strenuous diplomatic pushback from Pakistan. Earlier this month the Federal Finance Secretary warned that Pakistan might face economic sanctions over the non-implementation of FATF recommendations. Hopefully the government has taken note of the observation. Being put on the blacklist will have serious consequences for the economy.
The post Pulwama confrontation between Pakistan and India could have led to dire consequences if friendly countries had not intervened to defuse the tensions. China, Russia, the USA and Saudi Arabia succeeded in dissuading both India and Pakistan from further hostilities. The incident has however led these countries to apprehend that terrorist groups can create a situation where the two neighbours sleepwalk into a nuclear conflict which could destabilize the entire region and have serious consequences for the world economy. China’s Deputy Foreign Minister and the Saudi Minister of State for Foreign Affairs were in Islamabad within days of the Pak-India military confrontation to meet Pakistan’s highest civil and military authorities. An article in the Chinese tabloid Global Times on Sunday entitled “China will not pick sides in India-Pakistan disputes” shows Chinese opposition to any war which could have adverse impact on its economy. During his India visit within days after Pulwama Attack, Saudi Crown Prince Muhammad Bin Salman “shared India’s concern on terrorism” and offered intelligence sharing and cooperation with New Delhi in fighting extremism and terrorism. On Tuesday Saudi Foreign Affairs Minister of State Adel bin Ahmed al-Jubeir agreed with Indian Foreign Minister Sushma Swaraj in New Delhi to set up a “strategic partnership council” to deepen cooperation to combat terrorism. One expects the government to derive the right conclusions from stands taken by some of Pakistan’s closest friends after the Pulwama attack.
