RSTV: THE BIG PICTURE- FIGHTING STATE SPONSORED TERROR
Introduction:
National Security Advisor Ajit Doval has come down heavily on Pakistan for providing safe haven for terrorists and using terrorism as an instrument of state policy. Addressing the national conference of chiefs of Anti terrorism Squad and STF, the NSA also said that to fight terrorism one should recognise as to who are the terrorists, which countries are supporting them and how they are being funded. Meanwhile the crucial meeting of the global anti money laundering watchdog FATF has begun in Paris during which a final decision will be taken on Pakistan’s grey list status. Pakistan has fared poorly in the recently released report of FATF’s Asia Pacific Group on terror funding.
Pakistan and state-sponsored terrorism
- Pakistan has been accused by neighbouring countries India, Afghanistan and Iran and other nations, such as the United States the United Kingdom, and France of involvement in terrorist activities in the region and beyond.
- Money is transferred to terror organization via Pakistan army.
- Pakistan’s tribal region along its border with Afghanistan has been described as a safe haven for terrorists by western media and the United States Defense Secretary. According to an analysis published, Pakistan was, “with the possible exception of Iran, perhaps the world’s most active sponsor of terrorist groups… aiding these groups that pose a direct threat to the United States.
- Pakistan’s active participation has caused thousands of deaths in the region; all these years Pakistan has been supportive to several terrorist groups despite several stern warnings from the international community
- The government of Pakistan has been accused of aiding terrorist organisations operating on their soil who have attacked neighbouring India.
- Pakistan denies all allegations, stating that these acts are committed by non-state actors
- Former Pakistan President Pervez Musharraf has admitted that Pakistan supported and trained terrorist groups like Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT) in 1990s to carry out militancy in Kashmir From 1979 Pakistan was in favour of religious militancy
- Many organizations change names and set up other organization to frame that Pakistan is looking into it.
Pakistan is widely believed to be engaged in State Sponsored Terrorism against India. According to the US, Iran remains the most active state sponsor of terrorism. US claims that Iran provides Hezbollah and Palestinian terrorist groups with extensive funding, training, and weapons. Iranian control over Hezbollah is particularly direct and is exercised through various individuals and institutions.
The importance of combating terrorist financing:
- Terrorists need money and other assets, for weapons but also training, travel and accommodation to plan and execute their attacks and develop as an organisation.
- Disrupting and preventing these terrorism-related financial flows and transactions is one of the most effective ways to fight terrorism.
- Not only can it prevent future attacks by disrupting their material support, the footprints of their purchases, withdrawals and other financial transactions can provide valuable information for ongoing investigations.
- Countering terrorism financing is therefore an essential part of the global fight against terror threat.
- As terrorists and terrorist groups continue to raise money with use of various means, countries must make it a priority to understand the risks they face from terrorist financing and develop policy responses to all aspects of it.
Terrorists require money to operate. Without funding, they cannot purchase weapons, equipment, supplies, or services. The source of terrorist funds may be licit or illicit, and funding often takes the form of multiple small donations, rather than one large sum of money. Terrorist groups may be directly or indirectly linked to organized criminal groups and may engage in criminal activities, including drugs or arms trafficking, extortion, and kidnapping for ransom. Terrorism financing is a global phenomenon that not only threatens Member States’ security, but can also undermine economic development and financial market stability. It is therefore of paramount importance to stem the flow of funds to terrorists.
In order to tackle terrorism financing effectively, it is essential that Member States cooperate regionally and internationally, including through the exchange of operational information by relevant entities, especially national financial intelligence units (FIUs). It is also essential that investigation of terrorism cases at the national level include the terrorist-financing element.
In carrying out its tasks, CTED works closely with relevant United Nations entities and coordinates its activities with those of external partners, including FATF and the FATF-Style Regional Bodies (FSRBs). Within the framework of the Counter-Terrorism Implementation Task Force (CTITF), CTED is a member of the Working Group on Countering the Financing of Terrorism.
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