India to challenge Pakistan at FATF over terror financing

India is set to press Pakistan during the Financial Action Task Force (FATF) plenary meeting in Paris, scheduled for October 28–29. New Delhi intends to present a case regarding Pakistan’s alleged failure to dismantle terror infrastructure and curb the activities of designated groups and individuals.

A primary focus of India’s diplomatic efforts will be the activities of Jaish-e-Mohammed and its leader, Masood Azhar. While Pakistan has previously claimed Azhar is located in Afghanistan, recent statements from the Taliban spokesperson, Zia Ahmed, have challenged this claim, stating that Afghanistan has not received formal communication regarding Azhar’s presence and will not allow its territory to be used against any country.

Additionally, India aims to highlight the roles of Hafiz Saeed, chief of Lashkar-e-Taiba, in connection with the Pahalgam terror attack. While Pakistan’s Federal Investigation Agency recently increased a bounty on Masood Azhar, Indian security officials have characterized such moves as attempts to mislead the international community, maintaining that these individuals continue to operate from Pakistani soil.