'You Are Under Watch': FATF Warns Pakistan After Hizbul Mujahideen Chief Syed Salahuddin Seen Publicly

New Delhi: In a stern message to Islamabad, the Financial Action Task Force (FATF) on Friday (February 24, 2023) said that Pakistan's progress in taking action on terror financing continues to be monitored. The comment came in the backdrop of Hizbul Mujahideen chief Syed Salahuddin being seen publicly in Pakistan.

Addressing the media after a five-day plenary meeting in Paris, FATF President T Raja Kumar said, "I will not speculate on specific media reports. But I think what is important is to emphasize that there continues to be, you know, monitoring of Pakistan's progress by the Asia Pacific group." 

"Pakistan has also taken action to complete the 34 action plan items either totally or substantially based on a high-level political commitment by Pakistan to basically continue and sustain these", he said.

"I would urge Pakistan to continue to address its remaining Action Plan items to fully complete them, as well as to make sure that it sustains its commitment and continues to enhance its Anti-Money Laundering/Combating the Financing of Terrorism systems," the FATF President added.

Recently, Syed Salahuddin, a US state department listed terrorist, was seen leading funeral prayers for Hizbul Mujahideen leader Bashir Ahmad Peer. In a viral video, he was seen surrounded by Pakistani soldiers and threatening India.

It is noteworthy that Pakistan was removed from FATF's grey list last year, but still needs to complete two action plans under its commitments.

While the country has been removed from the grey list, it continues to be supervised by the Asia Pacific Group (APG). 

APG is a Financial Action Task Force-Style Regional Bodies (FSRB) and is the largest in terms of membership numbers and geographical size.