Riyadh, May 29, 2025: Asaduddin Owaisi, Member of Parliament from All India Majlis-e-Ittehadul Muslimeen (AIMIM), has called for Pakistan to be reinstated on the Financial Action Task Force (FATF) grey list to effectively curb the financing of terrorist groups operating from the country.
Speaking during an interaction in Riyadh as part of an all-party delegation led by BJP MP Baijayant Panda, Owaisi highlighted evidence of Pakistan's involvement in sponsoring terrorism. He referred to a photograph showing a US-designated terrorist seated beside Pakistan’s army chief, Field Marshal Asim Munir, as clear demonstration of the state's links to terrorist organizations.
"Pakistan must be placed back on the FATF grey list. Only then can we restrict the flow of funds to terror outfits destabilizing the region," Owaisi asserted. He further criticized Pakistan’s handling of cases related to terror attacks on Indian soil, citing the aftermath of the 2008 Mumbai attacks.
Owaisi detailed how Indian investigators had provided Pakistan with extensive evidence following the Mumbai attacks, yet no significant progress occurred until international pressure mounted via FATF sanctions. He noted Pakistan's initial claim that the accused Sajid Mir was deceased, only to later admit he was alive, a contradiction made under FATF scrutiny.
He expressed concern that key perpetrators remain unprosecuted for terrorism charges, despite convictions related to money laundering. Owaisi also revealed that Indian intelligence recorded conversations between terrorists and their handlers in Pakistan, highlighting instructions to maximize casualties and promises of rewards in the afterlife.
"Our agencies intercepted communications where terrorists in Pakistan encouraged attackers to ‘kill as many Indians as possible’ and assured them of ‘Jannat’ (heaven)," he said. The Indian legal system, he added, had duly sentenced Ajmal Kasab, one of the attackers, to death, underscoring India’s commitment to due process.
The delegation in Riyadh includes BJP MPs Nishikant Dubey, Phangnon Konyak, Rekha Sharma, Satnam Singh Sandhu, former Congress leader Ghulam Nabi Azad, and Ambassador Harsh Shringla. Their mission is to brief international partners on India's efforts to combat cross-border terrorism, particularly following the April 22 Pahalgam terror attack, while countering global misinformation.
This multi-party delegation will engage with leaders across Saudi Arabia, Kuwait, Bahrain, and Algeria, emphasizing India’s resolute stance against terrorism and cross-border threats.
