- By Ajeet Kumar
- Sat, 31 May 2025 09:23 PM (IST)
- Source:JND
Pakistan Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif has again exposed the country's image during an event, where he acknowledged how the global community is weighing whenever their officials visit any foreign country. While addressing a military event, Sharif claimed that China is the "most time-tested friend of Pakistan" and added Turkey,andSaudi Arabia in similar categories but used the term "reliable friend", unlike all-weather friend as it refers to Beijing.
"The international community doesn't expect us to come with a begging bowl. I am the last person, along with the field Marshal Munir to carry this burden on my shoulder...," Sharif said as he called for the usage of Pakistani natural resources.
Shehbaz claimed that the international community expect Pakistan to collaborate in trade, innovation and other developmental projects. He, however, admitted that terrorism is a major concerning issue for Pakistan-- a claim India has been consistently calling Islamabad a "terrorism epicentre".
Pakistan fragile economy
It is worth mentioning Pakistan's economy has been in a turbulent phase for almost a decade now. It has been actively engaging with other countries butfor the sake of loans and other issues.This dented the image in the global community. The country had recently received a loan from the International Monetary Fund (IMF) and seeking an additional amount to run the fragile economy.
India To Push For Pakistan's Return To FATF 'Grey List'
However, this time, India has been actively lobbying against Islamabad to prevent it from getting any amount, given the fact that it uses a large tranche in funding terror groups.
Recently, the news agency PTI, citing its sources reported, said India will make a strong case with FATF to revert Pakistan to its "grey list" for failure to comply with anti-money laundering and terror financing rules. "We will be taking it up (with the FATF)," the source said when asked whether India will make a case with the Financial Action Task Force (FATF) to place Pakistan in the grey list.
The last time the FATF had placed Pakistan on its Grey List was in June 2018, when it found several strategic deficiencies concerning the AML and CFT recommendations. Pakistan was told to implement an action plan, which included demonstrating effective action against United Nations-designated terror outfits, individuals, and their associates in terms of financial sanctions, asset seizures, investigation, prosecution, and convictions.
However, owing to its failure to implement all the action points fully, Pakistan was again retained on the Grey List on October 21, 2021. The FATF Plenary noted that Pakistan had completed 26 of the 27 action items in its 2018 plan. The one remaining issue was about continuing to demonstrate that terror financing investigations and prosecutions targeted senior functionaries and commanders of UN-designated terror outfits.
Pakistan was put on the Grey List for the first time in 2008, then removed in 2009, and again it was brought under increased monitoring from 2012 to 2015. Greylisting by the FATF is said to limit a country's access to international loans.
(With inputs from agency)