India set to corner Pakistan at FATF meet, Taliban statement becomes diplomatic weapon over Masood Azhar New Delhi is preparing to corner Islamabad at the upcoming FATF meeting in Paris over Jaish-e-Mohammed chief Masood Azhar. Taliban officials have dismissed Pakistan's claims about Azhar residing in Afghanistan, giving India a strong diplomatic edge. India is gearing up to increase international pressure on Pakistan during the upcoming Financial Action Task Force plenary by leveraging a crucial statement made by the Taliban regarding terrorist leader Masood Azhar. The high-stakes meeting, scheduled to take place from October 28 to 30 in Paris, will see Indian delegates highlighting Islamabad's duplicity in acting against individuals listed as global terrorists by the United Nations. With recent developments exposing contradictions in Pakistan's official narrative, New Delhi intends to push for strict accountability regarding the whereabouts and unhindered movement of the notorious terrorist leader. Taliban statement exposes Pakistan's claims The core of India's current diplomatic strategy revolves around Pakistan's long-standing assertion that Masood Azhar has been hiding inside Afghanistan since 2019. However, Taliban spokesperson Zia Ahmad Takal dismissed this claim in September, explicitly stating that Azhar is not present on Afghan soil and that Pakistan never initiated any formal communication with them regarding his presence. India plans to present this glaring contradiction on the international stage during the Paris deliberations. According to official sources, Indian diplomats have already engaged with representatives of allied nations and key members ahead of the summit to brief them on Islamabad's failure to provide credible evidence of action against the terrorist leader. Review of counter-terrorism efforts in Paris The Financial Action Task Force serves as the global watchdog for combating money laundering and terrorist financing. During the upcoming discussions in Paris, the overall evaluation of Pakistan's counter-terrorism framework is expected to be a significant point of discussion. The Indian delegation plans to emphasize that Islamabad has consistently avoided taking genuine legal steps against Azhar, relying instead on token gestures like cash rewards without enforcement. While it remains unconfirmed whether the plenary will issue a formal penalty or mandate new actions against Pakistan, raising this matter effectively challenges Islamabad's compliance with global financial security standards. Past scrutiny and grey list history Pakistan is no stranger to intense financial scrutiny, having remained on the FATF grey list from 2018 to 2022 due to severe deficiencies in preventing terror financing and money laundering. Throughout that period, financial networks linked directly to militant outfits like Jaish-e-Mohammed and Lashkar-e-Taiba were flagged as major international security concerns. Even after exiting the grey list, Pakistan's financial transactions and security measures have remained under continuous observation through the Asia-Pacific Group, which closely monitors lingering funding channels connected to individuals like Azhar. Why Masood Azhar remains a critical priority for India Masood Azhar is a wanted fugitive connected to multiple devastating terrorist attacks targeting India over the decades, including the 2001 Indian Parliament attack, the 2016 Pathankot airbase strike, and the 2019 Pulwama bombing. Decades prior, in December 1999, Azhar was among three high-profile militants released by India in exchange for the hostages aboard hijacked Indian Airlines flight IC-814. The United Nations Security Council eventually designated him as a global terrorist in May 2019. By raising these unresolved security gaps at the FATF forum, India aims to maintain relentless diplomatic pressure on Islamabad to deliver verifiable proof of action. What this means for you Increased international scrutiny on terror financing could significantly tighten financial restrictions on Pakistan, impacting broader regional security dynamics. • Across India: Heightened global pressure against cross-border terrorism will strengthen national security frameworks. Diplomatic initiatives at international forums compel neighboring states to take verifiable action against wanted fugitives. • At the FATF Summit: The upcoming plenary from October 28 to 30 in Paris may enforce stringent oversight on compliance standards. Strict global financial regulations ensure enhanced transparency across international markets. Why this happened This diplomatic standoff emerged due to direct contradictions between Pakistan's official narrative and the Taliban's public rejection of those claims. • Taliban Denial: The Taliban clarified in September that Masood Azhar is not present in Afghanistan and that Islamabad never communicated regarding his location. This official stance dismantled Pakistan's long-standing excuse regarding the terrorist's whereabouts. • Regulatory Deficiencies: During previous FATF evaluations, Pakistan faced strict scrutiny for failing to curb illicit financial flows tied to militant networks. Token actions like announcing bounties failed to meet international compliance standards. • Historical Context: Masood Azhar remains a fugitive linked to major attacks including the 2001 Parliament assault and the 2019 Pulwama bombing. Despite being designated a global terrorist by the United Nations, effective enforcement actions by Islamabad have been lacking. Questions & Answers 1. When and where will the FATF meeting take place? The FATF meeting is scheduled to take place from October 28 to 30 in Paris. 2. Which terrorist leader will India highlight at the FATF meeting? India will raise the issue of lack of action against Jaish-e-Mohammed chief Masood Azhar. 3. What statement did the Taliban issue regarding Masood Azhar? Taliban spokesperson Zia Ahmad Takal stated in September that Azhar is not in Afghanistan and Pakistan never communicated about him. 4. When was Pakistan on the FATF grey list? Pakistan remained on the FATF grey list from 2018 to 2022. 5. When was Masood Azhar designated as a global terrorist by the UN? The United Nations Security Council designated Masood Azhar as a global terrorist in May 2019. https://trendkia.com/en/politics/india-set-to-corner-pakistan-at-fatf-meet-taliban-statement-becomes-diplomatic-weapon-over-masood-azhar-52425 TrendKia — Har trend, sabse pehle.