“Do More,” No More!

There is an end to iniquity and injustice. However, the power elite of the world seem to be overly absorbed in serving only their own interests, with absolutely no regard to the impact of their jingoistic narcissism on the rest of the world. Pakistan can be termed as another textbook example of Western apathy towards the plight of the economically weaker states. Poor countries have to comply with undue demands of the developed world and are often blackmailed to follow a set of imposed conditions to avoid the wrath of the big powers. Since June 2018, Pakistan has been on the grey list of the FATF for so-called charges of terror financing and money laundering. When the plenary meeting of FATF takes place three times a year, it always finds faults with Pakistan fulfilling its recommended actions. Consequently, the country continues to remain on the watchdog’s “increased monitoring list”, also known as the grey list. There is always a sword hanging on Pakistan’s head that if it does not comply with FATF requirements, it will be ostracized by the international community.

At every meeting, Pakistan is asked to fully implement the FATF Action Plan, leaving the country’s already fragile economy in the balance till the holding of the next review. This time it was obvious that FATF President Dr Marcus Pleyer could not deny Pakistan’s significant progress as the country was able to successfully address 26 out of 27 items on the Action Plan it first agreed to in June 2018. However, despite such significant progress, the decision to keep Pakistan in the grey list was not changed. This suggests something else. As rightly pointed out by Pakistan Foreign Minister Shah Mahmood Qureshi, the FATF is seemingly operating as a political forum to achieve political objectives. His words must serve as a clarion call for the legitimacy of the workings of other FATF-like institutions, which are merely political pawns operating on the directives of powerful countries to cut the weaker nations down to size.

In the imminent withdrawal of U.S. forces from Afghanistan, the United States wants Pakistan to play a ‘constructive role’ by allowing the U.S. military to have airbases in Pakistan with unrestrained ground access. Pushing Pakistan to ‘do more’ yet again, the U.S. wants to use the so-called ‘non-NATO ally’ as its base camp to keep a vigilant eye on Afghanistan and take military actions when necessary. With a categorical ‘Absolutely Not’ reply, Pakistan Prime Minister Imran Khan has rightly – and courageously – rebuffed the U.S. On top of his mind must have been the severe consequences for this most terror-hit nation after Iraq and Afghanistan. The country has been grappling with terrorism for more than a decade. On the face of it, the recent FATF meeting, together with another ‘do more’ call from the U.S., has now reached the point of sheer wickedness and villainy that characterise the global powers that be. At this crucial juncture, Pakistan needs to stay firm and resolute and play its cards safely, putting all its eggs in different baskets.

Syed Jawaid Iqbal
President & Editor in Chief