India is set to corner Pakistan at the plenary meeting of the Financial Action Task Force (FATF) beginning on October 28 over Islamabad’s failure to crack down on the activities of UN-designated terrorist and Jaish-e-Mohammed (JeM) chief Masood Azhar, people familiar with the matter said.
The Indian side’s case hinges on the Taliban regime’s recent denial of Pakistan’s claim that Azhar is currently in Afghanistan, the people said on condition of anonymity.
In September, Taliban spokesperson Zia Ahmad Thakal denied that Azhar was in Afghanistan, or that Pakistan has sent any formal communication regarding the JeM chief’s presence in Afghanistan. He also reiterated the Taliban’s policy of not allowing Afghan territory to be used against any country. The Indian side has focused on Azhar, wanted by New Delhi for several terror attacks such as the 2001 Parliament strike, the 2016 Pathankot airbase assault and the 2019 Pulwama bombing, after the Taliban regime dismissed the contention of Pakistani officials that the JeM founder has been in Afghanistan since 2019.
Over the past week, the Indian side has quietly sounded out diplomats from partner countries and key members of the FATF to gain support for its move that is expected to figure at the FATF plenary meeting to be held in Paris during October 28-30, the people said.
