FATF report slammed state-sponsored terrorism, makes assertion on Pakistan
By Anjali Sharma
WASHINGTON – The Financial Action Task Force on Wednesday has released a groundbreaking report that introduces the concept of state-sponsored terrorism, marked a significant shift in the global counter-terrorism discourse.
The findings reinforce India’s long-standing assertion that Pakistan sponsors cross-border terrorism.
The FATF is the global money laundering and terrorist financing watchdog. It sets international standards that aim to prevent these illegal activities and the harm they cause to society.
The report acknowledged that certain terrorist organizations receive financial and other forms of support from national governments, a phenomenon India has been highlighting for years.
India’s National Risk Assessment 2022 had identified state-sponsored terrorism from Pakistan as a key terrorist financing risk. The FATF report’s findings corroborate India’s position.
The report highlighted the funding patterns of Pakistan-based terrorist groups, including Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT) and Jaish-e-Mohammed.
The FATF report also revealed that terrorists have been exploiting e-commerce platforms and online payment services to finance their activities.
Case studies cited in the report include the 2019 Pulwama terror attack, where a key component of the improvised explosive device was procured through Amazon, and the 2022 Gorakhnath Temple incident, where an individual used PayPal to transfer funds to support the Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant.
The FATF report’s findings have significant implications for global counter-terrorism efforts.
The recognition of state-sponsored terrorism as a distinct and serious source of terror financing underscores the need for countries to take concrete actions to prevent and combat terrorist financing.
