FATF review: Pakistan likely to get US backing at forthcoming plenary

• Reports say the US is likely to throw its weight behind Pakistan and save it at least from being placed in the 'blacklist'.
• Pakistan was cleared of 14 points out of 27 at the Asia Pacific Group meeting held in Beijing, China from January 21 to January 23.

Pakistan is likely to get the backing of the United States during the upcoming Financial Action Task Force (FATF) plenary, which is scheduled to meet in Paris on February 16.

As per reports, the United States is likely to throw its weight behind Pakistan and save it at least from being placed in the “black-list”, if not removed from the “grey-list”.

Pakistan Foreign Office (FO) on Thursday expressed optimism over the upcoming FATF review, as the intergovernmental organization reviews Pakistan's measures at the meeting that begins on February 16. “Our international partners are standing with us," said FO Spokesperson Aisha Farooqi, in a weekly presser.

Pakistan on Wednesday, sentenced Jamaatud Dawa (JuD) chief Hafiz Saeed and his aide, Malik Zafar Iqbal, to five-and-a-half-year imprisonment for terror financing, the conviction is being considered crucial on the backdrop of the upcoming FATF review.

Meanwhile, Federal Minister for Economic Affairs Hammad Azhar, who is leading the talks for Pakistan stressed that his team remains committed to complete FATF Action Plan. “Pakistan remains committed to the earliest completion of its FATF Action Plan," said Azhar in a tweet post.

The FATF's five-day plenary session begins in Paris from February 16. As per details, it will be decided at the meeting whether Pakistan will remain on the grey list or will leave it.

Reports indicate that despite the opposition by the rival neighbor India during the FATF meeting in Beijing last year, the United States, the European Union, has supported Pakistan for its measures taken to counter anti-money laundering and terror financing.

Last month, the US Principal Deputy Assistant Secretary of State for South and Central Asian Affairs, Alice Wells, appreciated Pakistan’s progress made on the measures in compliance with FATF action plan. “It is heartening to note that Pakistan's central government has made significant progress on these matters in quite a short period of time," said Wells.

On Friday, Turkish President reaffirmed Turkey's continued support to Pakistan in the FATF ahead of its crucial plenary in Paris. “We will continue to stand by Pakistan in the future, as in the past. In this context, I would like to emphasize that we will support Pakistan, which is intended to be put under political pressure at the Financial Action Task Force meetings," President Erdogan said during his address to the joint sitting of the parliament.

Pakistan was cleared of 14 points out of 27 at the Asia Pacific Group meeting held in Beijing, China from January 21 to January 23. FATF added Pakistan to the grey list in June 2018. After that, Pakistan ensured implementation of most points and action plans.