US Says It Recognizes, Supports Pakistan’s Efforts To Follow FATF’s Action Plan

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US says it recognizes, supports Pakistan’s efforts to follow FATF’s action plan

State Department Spokesperson Ned Price says Pakistan should continue working with the FATF and the international community to swiftly complete the remaining action item by demonstrating that terrorism financing, investigations, and prosecutions target senior leaders and commanders of UN-designated groups.

WASHINGTON: (UrduPoint/Pakistan Point News-July 20th, 2021) The United States of America (USA) backed Pakistan for “significant progress” on its first action plan with 26 of 27 action items ‘ largely addressed’, State department Spokesperson Ned price said on Tuesday.

The Spokespersons said that the US recognized and supported Pakistan’s continued efforts to satisfy those obligations.

He expressed these words while addressing a regular weekly press conference.

The statement from the White House came a couple of days after India admitted to its negative role in keeping Pakistan on the grey list of the Financial Action Task Force (FATF).

“We do recognize and support Pakistan’s continued efforts to satisfy those obligations,” said Ned Price.

The State Department spokesperson was asked to comment on Foreign Minister Shah Mahmood Qureshi’s statement over Indian External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar’s admission that Pakistan was on the FATF grey list because of the "efforts of Narendra Modi's government."

Price said that the US encourages Pakistan to continue working with the FATF and the international community to swiftly complete the remaining action item by demonstrating that terrorism financing, investigations, and prosecutions target senior leaders and commanders of UN-designated groups.

“We do further encourage Pakistan to expeditiously implement its new second action plan.”

The State Department was also asked to speak on the issue of the alleged abduction of the daughter of Afghanistan's envoy to Pakistan after Kabul recalled its senior diplomats from Islamabad.

“Afghanistan’s neighbours do have a role to play. I would add that tangible and material support for the Afghanistan peace process is vital for its ultimate success, as are the longer-term relations between Afghanistan and Pakistan,” he said.

He added that the US certainly do hope to see Afghanistan’s neighbours play a constructive, responsible role in bringing about a just and durable solution here. “We understand the crucial role that Pakistan has the potential to play in this regard as well.”

“We certainly welcome that statement. We hope to see follow-through, because we – as we have said, continue to believe that only a negotiated settlement can bring an end to 40 years of conflict that the Afghan people have endured, and we urge the Taliban to uphold the commitment in the joint declaration – the declaration that I just mentioned – to protect Afghanistan’s infrastructure, to protect civilians, and to cooperate on humanitarian assistance. We are certainly pleased to see those pledges in this declaration, and now we are looking to see the follow-through.”

He also urged the Afghan groups to continue talking to achieve peace through talks. The official mentioned that the Afghan government and the Taliban have issued a joint statement and declared to accelerate negotiations towards an inclusive political settlement.

Fida Hussnain

Fida Hussnain is a lahore based journalist. He writes on politics, religion, social issues and climate change. He is also a research fellow at University of Gujrat.