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Pakistan remains on the grey list prepared by the Paris based international terror-financing watchdog Financial Action Task Force (FATF). According to FATF, Pakistan is yet to complete the crucial task of convicting terrorists and terror organisations such as Lashkar-e-Toiba, Jaish-e-Mohammad, Al Qaeda and Taliban, which have been designated as terror operators by the United Nations (UN). Though greylisting carries no legal sanctions, it makes it difficult for the countries in the said list to avail international loans. Pakistan has admitted to losing US $10 billion annually after featuring on the grey list.
While some international relations experts have termed the continuance of Pakistan in the said list since June, 2018 as a welcome relief for India, the reality is just the opposite. From observations made by FATF, it is amply clear that our western neighbour is not serious about rooting out terrorism. Terrorism cannot be wiped out unless exemplary punishment is awarded to the terrorists. As long as Pakistan continues to take cosmetic measures like house arrest or freezing of some bank accounts, terrorism will continue to prosper.
How India will be affected from Pakistan’s continued love-hate relations with terrorism can be judged from the fact that as soon as the renewal of peace talks in Kashmir took place, two blasts have occurred in the technical area of the Jammu airport. Though no group has claimed responsibility thus far, it is an open secret that sponsored terrorists are behind the incident. According to political observers, if the peace process goes on further, there will be many more such attacks on important installations and market places with the objective to keep peace away from this part of the country.
So, nations should not sit idle by only putting Pakistan on FATF’s grey list. There is much more to be done. The world in unison should ask Pakistan either to take action against the terrorists or face complete international ban. It’s a pity that even after having enough evidence to prove that the country is providing safe havens to terrorists, some countries are still siding with Pakistan. As a matter of fact, a political tug of war is on going between the two world powers over Pakistan. While one superpower is trying to establish an alternative trade route avoiding the South China Sea, another is trying to establish a military base in that very country to impose its authority in this part of the globe.
Up until 9/11, the world did not recognise terrorism as a threat to mankind. The world should not make the same mistake of ignoring the menace of terrorism and leave India alone to combat terror. Today most countries are affected by terrorism, it is high time to join hands and wipe out this menace from its roots. Otherwise sooner than later, terrorism will become a threat to the very existence of human civilization.