THE Financial Action Task Force (FATF) is an international organization with the primary objectives of establishing standards and fostering effective implementation of legal, regulatory and operational measures to combat money laundering, terrorist financing and other threats to the integrity of the global financial system. Functioning as a “policy-making body,” the FATF plays a crucial role in encouraging political will among member countries to enact legislative and regulatory reforms in these critical areas.
The organization monitors the progress of its recommendations through peer reviews, known as mutual evaluations. However, recent developments suggest that the FATF may be overlooking instances of governments engaging in rogue behaviour and utilizing intelligence agencies and death squads to achieve geopolitical objectives through acts of terrorism. This article sheds light on India’s actions, particularly its state-sponsored terrorism and the use of death squads, raising concerns about the need for the FATF to expand its focus to address such issues and implement stringent measures.
At the domestic level, India has been accused of unleashing a genocidal reign of terror in the Indian Illegally Occupied Jammu Kashmir (IIOJK). Draconian laws providing unlimited powers to security forces have subjected the Muslim-majority region to state-sponsored terrorism. The Sikh movement for an independent Khalistan and Christian communities in Manipur have also faced harsh suppression. The current BJP government’s majoritarian policies, xenophobic legislations and brutality of state institutions have led to widespread terrorization of minorities, Dalits and others.
Regionally, Pakistan bears the brunt of India’s actions, with its intelligence agency RAW being accused of supporting terrorist groups in Afghanistan and Iran. These groups, including ISK, TTP, ETIM and Baloch dissident groups like BLA, have been allegedly sponsored and controlled by RAW to further India’s strategic interests against Pakistan and China’s BRI-CPEC. The complicity of the Afghan regime and the capture of a serving Indian Navy officer, Kulbhushan Yadav, in Balochistan, further highlight the gravity of India’s state-sponsored terrorism.
A disturbing trend involves the use of death squads by the Indian Government and RAW to eliminate political opponents and spread terror among those opposing them. These death squads, with a global reach, specifically target Kashmiri and Sikh individuals supporting freedom movements in IIOJK and Indian Punjab (Khalistan). Assassinations have been reported in Pakistan, Canada, the UK, Middle East and even an attempted murder in the US. The audacious and sustained nature of RAW’s death squad strategy demands immediate attention.
Despite widespread allegations and evidence of India’s involvement in state-sponsored terrorism and the use of death squads, the international response has been slow. The FATF, as a key player in establishing global standards, needs to address this aspect of international terrorism promptly. Instituting unimpeachable policies, measures, firewalls, checks and balances is crucial to holding governments accountable for sponsoring, maintaining and financing terrorist groups, as well as launching death squads domestically and internationally.
The RSS-sponsored Hindutva-inspired BJP Government of India emerges as a prime candidate for scrutiny in this regard. A comprehensive study should be conducted to draw relevant conclusions and implement effective oversight and control over the spread of state-sponsored domestic and international terrorism, including the use of death squads. India’s geopolitical positioning, particularly its alignment with the US-led West, should not shield it from accountability.
The FATF must play a central role in scrutinizing countries engaging in state-sponsored terrorism. Peer reviews should not only focus on traditional financial measures but also include an assessment of each country’s involvement in supporting terrorist activities and death squads. The Black and Grey Lists maintained by the FATF should be expanded to cover these aspects, holding countries accountable for their ruthless campaigns of state-sponsored international terrorism.
As state-sponsored terrorism and the use of death squads become increasingly prevalent, it is imperative for international organizations like the FATF to adapt and broaden their scope of evaluation. The case of India, with its alleged involvement in such activities, underscores the urgency for the FATF to institute measures that address not only financial aspects but also the broader implications of state-sponsored terrorism. A proactive stance by the FATF will contribute to a more secure and peaceful world order, ensuring that countries are held accountable for their actions in the face of evolving geopolitical challenges.
—The writer is Islamabad based expert of strategic affairs
Email: [email protected]
views expressed are writer’s own.
