Pak cannot do much to stop the terror financing: British researcher

Even though the Financial Action Task Force (FATF) has asked Pakistan to stop fund flows to terrorists to stay out of the Grey List, a British researcher Mathew Garrod believes that Islamabad cannot do much to stop the terror financing. According to him, it is going to be a long-term solution for Pakistan to stop terror financing. Speaking to a news agency, he said, "With FATF's recommendations and listening, I cannot see the Pakistan government moving much on this because it doesn't have the capacity to control the territories where a lot of these groups are residing and operating from." He further added, "Pakistan does not have the ability to do so." Garrod is a lecturer at the University of Sussex. 

Links and alliances with Pak Army?

According to the British researcher, some terrorist groups may have close alliances and links with the Pakistan Army. "In South Asia, the terrorist groups have been increasingly gaining footholds not only in Pakistan but also in other countries as well," Garrod was quoted as saying. Speaking about the links between these groups and transnational crimes that are affecting the world, Garrod said that terror financing is an issue that affects Europe, America and all parts of the world including the Middle East.

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Pakistan likely to be put in 'Dark Grey' list

Earlier on October 15, the FAFT had hinted that Pakistan may be put in the ''Dark Grey'' list. According to officials, the international terror financing watchdog FATF will take strong action, after Pakistan's non-compliance with the pointers given by the body to combat terror. They also told that the country has been given the last warning to improve. According to FATF rules, there is one essential stage between ''Grey'' and ''Black'' lists, referred to as ''Dark Grey''. ''Dark Grey'' means the issuance of a strong warning, so that the country concerned gets one last chance to improve. The Grey List is a warning that is given to a country to tackle terror funding and other issues. If that country does not take steps to address these issues, it is blacklisted.

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Pakistan on FAFT list

The FATF had placed Pakistan on their Grey List in June 2018. In August 2019, the Asia Pacific Joint Group (APJG) placed Pakistan in the enhanced follow-up list for failure to meet the standards. The list was based on technical compliance and rated 'satisfactory' on meeting 10 points out of the 40. Depending on FATF's decision, Pakistan may or may not join the blacklist with Iran and North Korea. The February 2020 deadline set by FATF is critical and Pakistan will be blacklisted if it fails to take steps to tackle terror funding, stated reports. 

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(With agency inputs)