The statement by Indian Finance Minister Arun Jaitley that New Delhi desired Financial Action Task Force (FATF) to place Pakistan’s name in its blacklist. On Friday the government of Pakistan showed its “deep concern” over this statement. Jaitley justified the statement by saying that Pakistan showed the global illicit financing watchdog was being “politicised” by the neighboring country.
While talking to the reporter on Thursday, Jaitley said that India would make its request to downgrade Pakistan on the FATF list when they will meet in mid-May.
Following this Foreign Office Spokesperson Dr Mohammad Faisal said in a statement, “The minister’s statement re-confirms Pakistan’s longstanding concerns that this technical forum is being politicised by India against Pakistan.”
He also added, “On several previous occasions, calculated leaks were made to the Indian media about the proceedings of FATF, which are strictly confidential.”
Citing examples from the past of Indian attempts to politicise the watchdog’s proceedings, he said prior to the FATF plenary meeting in February, India had “circulated its own assessment of Pakistan’s progress and solicited immediate support for ‘blacklisting’ Pakistan”.
FO said that earlier the cases of politicisation by India were highlighted in front of the FTTF president by the Pakistani finance minister.
The statement further claimed, “India’s attempts to politicise the proceedings in FATF against Pakistan call into question its credentials for co-chairing and being a member of the Asia Pacific Joint Group that reviews the progress made by Pakistan to implement the FATF Action Plan.”
“Pakistan is completely dedicated to fully implement the FATF Action Plan, which was earlier decided to at the “highest political level,” added the statement issued by the FO.
“However, FATF must ensure that the process remains fair, unbiased and firmly grounded in the technical criteria of the forum.”