New Delhi, Feb 25: In sharp warning to Islamabad, the Financial Action Task Force (FATF) has said Pakistan's progress in taking action on terror financing continues to be monitored. The comments came in the backdrop of Hizbul Mujahideen chief Syed Salahuddin being seen publicly at a terrorist funeral in Pakistan.

 

 

"The Financial Action Task Force (FATF) continues to monitor Pakistan’s actions to strengthen its system to counter terror financing, and to deliver on all its commitments", the head of the multilateral watchdog said on Friday. FATF president T. Raja Kumar made the remarks when he was asked whether Hizbul Mujahideen chief Syed Salahuddin’s activities in Rawalpindi went against Pakistan’s commitments to crack down on terrorism.

 

 

The FATF President explained, "Pakistan has also taken action to complete the 34 action plan items either totally or substantially based on a high-level political commitment by Pakistan to basically continue and sustain these", adding, "I would urge Pakistan to continue to address its remaining Action Plan items to fully complete them, as well as to make sure that it sustains its commitment and continues to enhance its (AML CFT) Anti-Money Laundering/Combating the Financing of Terrorism systems."

 

 

These statements emerged after online videos showed Hizbul Mujahideen chief Syed Salahuddin, along with armed bodyguards, leading funeral prayers for Bashir Ahmad Peer, a Hizbul Mujahideen commander shot dead by unidentified assailants in Rawalpindi.

 

A US state department listed terrorist, Syed Salahuddin was leading funeral prayers for Hizbul Mujahideen leader Bashir Ahmad Peer. In a viral video, protected by Pakistani soldiers, the Hizbul Mujahideen chief threatened India. Pakistan was removed from FATF's grey list last year but still needs to complete 2 action plans under its commitments.

 

 

While the country has been removed from the grey list, it continues to be supervised by the Asia Pacific Group (APG). APG is a Financial Action Task Force-Style Regional Bodies (FSRBs) and is the largest in terms of membership numbers and geographical size.