%3Cstrong%3EPakistan%u2019s%20Tryst%20with%20Destiny%3C/strong%3E

Pakistan%2C%20the%20epicentre%20of%20terrorism%20and%20a%20rentier%20economy%2C%20awaits%20its%20destiny%20of%20being%20choked%20to%20death.%20Even%20as%20the%20two%20interrelated%20C%u2019s%20-%20%u2018China%20and%20COVID%u2019%20play%20havoc%20with%20the%20world%2C%20Pakistan%20is%20choking%20to%20survive%20a%20challenge%20of%20a%20different%20kind%20-%20the%20choice%20between%20state-funded%20terrorism%20as%20a%20policy%20or%20economic%20survival%20of%20the%20very%20state.%3Ci%3E%3Cstrong%3E%26nbsp%3B%3C/strong%3E%3C/i%3EIts%20policy%20of%20%u2018running%20with%20the%20hare%20and%20hunting%20with%20the%20hounds%u2019%20now%20lies%20exposed.%20Yet%20it%20seeks%20to%20once%20again%20hoodwink%20FATF%20with%20the%20support%20of%20its%20friends%20China%2C%20Malaysia%20and%20to%20give%20it%20a%20breather.

Pakistan%u2019s%20state-aided%20terrorist%20organisations%20are%20a%20cheaper%20military%20option%20for%20a%20proxy%20war%20in%20Kashmir%20and%20to%20keep%20its%20geo-strategic%20hold%20on%20Afghanistan%20power%20play%20by%20misusing%20the%20funds%20allotted%20for%20fighting%20the%20war%20on%20terrorism%20by%20America%3Ci%3E%3Cstrong%3E.%3C/strong%3E%3C/i%3E%20It%20also%20binds%20the%20nations%20sentiments%20based%20on%20radicalisation%20and%20anti-Indianism%2C%20diverting%20the%20attention%20of%20the%20populace%20from%20the%20greater%20miseries%20they%20face.

The%20Paris-based%20FATF%20had%20placed%20Pakistan%20on%20the%20grey%20list%20in%20June%202018%20and%20had%20asked%20it%20to%20implement%20measures%20to%20curb%20money%20laundering%20and%20terror%20financing%20by%20the%20end%20of%202019.%20%26nbsp%3BThe%20deadline%20was%20however%20extended%20later%20on%20due%20to%20its%20all-time%20ally%20China%u2019s%20Wuhan%20Virus%20which%20impacted%20the%20globe.%26nbsp%3B

If%20Pakistan%20fails%20to%20comply%20with%20the%20balance%2013%20of%20the%2027%20FATF%20directives%20in%20the%2021%20-%2023%20October%20meeting%2C%20there%20is%20an%20option%20that%20the%20global%20body%20may%20put%20the%20country%20in%20the%20%u2018Black%20List%u2019%20joining%20the%20bandwagon%20of%20North%20Korea%20and%20Iran.%26nbsp%3B

If%20Pakistan%20is%20put%20on%20the%20blacklist%2C%20it%20could%20entail%20extensive%20economic%20sanctions%20and%20impact%20a%20%246-billion%20bailout%20programme%20with%20the%20IMF.%20The%20question%20remains%20-%20%u2018Will%20the%20world%20allow%20it%20to%20fail%u2019%3F%20or%20%u2018Will%20the%20geographical%20blessing%20and%20its%20present%20geopolitical%20importance%20give%20it%20another%20temporary%20lease%20of%20life%3F%u2019.%26nbsp%3B

%3Cstrong%3EGlaring%20Economic%20Nightmare%26nbsp%3B%3C/strong%3E

As%20per%20the%20World%20Bank%20report%2C%20Pakistan%u2019s%20real%20GDP%20growth%20at%20factor%20cost%20is%20estimated%20to%20have%20declined%20to%20%28minus%29%20-1.5%20percent%20in%20FY20.%20The%20consumer%20price%20inflation%20has%20risen%20to%20an%20average%20of%2010.7%20percent%20in%20FY20%2C%20due%20to%20surging%20food%20inflation%2C%20hikes%20in%20administered%20energy%20prices%2C%20and%20a%20weaker%20rupee%2C%20which%20depreciated%2013.8%20percent%20against%20the%20U.S.%20dollar%20in%20FY20.%26nbsp%3B

The%20World%20Bank%20report%20predicts%20three%20countries%20-%20Pakistan%2C%20Afghanistan%20and%20the%20Maldives%20-%20are%20expected%20to%20fall%20into%20recession.%20The%20deep%20malice%20of%20corruption%2C%20money%20laundering%2C%20terror%20funding%2C%20mismanagement%20and%20misplaced%20priorities%20have%20drowned%20the%20economy.%20Thus%20the%20oxygen%20to%20Pakistan%20to%20keep%20afloat%20has%20been%20borrowings%2C%20both%20domestic%20and%20foreign.%26nbsp%3B

Pakistan%u2019s%20total%20external%20debt%20stands%20at%20a%20whopping%20%24111%20billion%20with%20China%20accounting%20for%20%2422%20billion%20and%20its%20burgeoning%20debt%20servicing%20obligation%20for%202020%20is%20over%20%2429%20billion.%20This%20suicidal%20option%20keeps%20pushing%20Pakistan%20to%20borrow%20more%2C%20without%20%u201Creset%u201D%20in%20its%20economy%20to%20pay%20back%20debt%20or%20keeping%20the%20terrorists%20funding%20away%2C%20and%20so%20donning%20the%20path%20of%20self-destruction.%26nbsp%3B

Pakistan%2C%20the%20home%20of%20the%20flagship%20project%20of%20China%u2019s%20trillion-dollar%20Belt%20Road%20Initiative%2C%20is%20also%20waning%20attractiveness%20and%20is%20in%20troubled%20waters.%20China%20strengthens%20its%20slave%20dependency%20while%20many%20corrupt%20Pakistanis%20are%20politically%20and%20financially%20beholden%20to%20China.%26nbsp%3B

No%20wonder%20the%20three%20big%20Daddies%20of%20Pakistan%20-%20Generals%2C%20Islamist%20and%20Politicians%20-%20all%20have%20more%20than%20one%20palatial%20bungalow%2C%20farmlands%20called%20%u2018Defence%20Colonies%u2019%20and%20multiple%20passports%20for%20a%20quick%20getaway%20like%20Parvez%20Musharraf%20and%20Nawaz%20Sharif.

%3Cstrong%3EPakistan%u2019s%20FATF%20Manoeuvres%3C/strong%3E

The%20broad%20parameters%20on%20which%20Pakistan%20had%20failed%20to%20achieve%20the%20compliance%20targets%20were%20anti-money%20laundering%20and%20financing%20of%20terrorism%2C%20prosecuting%20and%20penalising%20terror%20financing%2C%20transparency%20and%20secrecy%20in%20financial%20institutions%20and%20implementing%20an%20effective%20national%20mechanism%20to%20check%20the%20illegal%20funding%20of%20terrorist%20outfits.

As%20a%20build-up%20to%20the%20October%20FATF%20plenary%2C%20Pakistan%20has%20once%20again%20resorted%20to%20its%20old%20tactics%20of%20hoodwinking%20by%20initiating%20%u2018high%20profile%20-%20low%20credibility%u2019%20actions%20just%20before%20the%20meeting%20to%20parry%20pressures.%20Pakistan%u2019s%20Parliament%20in%20September%202020%20passed%20three%20Financial%20Action%20Task%20Force-related%20legislations%2C%20as%20part%20of%20the%20government%u2019s%20gimmickry%20to%20escape%20from%20being%20blacklisted.%26nbsp%3B

Earlier%20in%20August%202020%2C%26nbsp%3BPakistan%u2019s%20foreign%20affairs%20ministry%20published%20a%20statutory%20curbing%20direct%20access%20to%20funds%2C%20enter%20or%20transit%20through%20Pakistan%20or%20procurement%20of%20weapon%20by%2089%20terrorists%20%28by%20inference%20owning%20them%29%20once%20again%20well-timed%20bluff%20for%20the%20FATF%20to%20bite.%20All%20designated%20terrorists%20on%20the%20list%20are%20to%20supposedly%20have%20no%20direct%20access%20to%20funds%2C%20be%20able%20to%20enter%20or%20transit%20through%20Pakistan%20or%20be%20able%20to%20procure%20weapons.%26nbsp%3B

This%20cat%20and%20mouse%20game%20manoeuvres%20by%20Pakistan%20continue%20as%20temporary%20illusions%20targeting%20international%20community%2C%20hiding%20the%20reality%20of%20its%20deep%20state.%20It%20tacitly%20exploits%20its%20geopolitical%20relevance%20as%20front%20line%20Muslim%20state%2C%20China%u2019s%20anti-India%20card%20besides%20CPEC%20lollipop%20and%20its%20influence%20in%20Afghanistan%20power%20play%20gaining%20sensitivity%20with%20the%20upcoming%20US%20exit.%26nbsp%3B

It%20knows%20the%20present%20chaos%20in%20Asia%20is%20enough%20and%20the%20world%20irrespective%20of%20its%20terror%20malice%20may%20not%20presently%20want%20another%20failed%20state.

%3Cstrong%3EUnrevealing%20the%20Truth%3C/strong%3E

Pakistan%20is%20the%20home%20to%20130%20UN-designated%20terrorists%20and%2025%20terrorist%20entities%20listed%20by%20the%20UN%20as%20of%20today%3Ci%3E%3Cstrong%3E.%26nbsp%3B%3C/strong%3E%3C/i%3EIt%20is%20the%20only%20government%20in%20the%20world%20that%20provides%20pension%20to%20an%20individual%20listed%20in%20the%20Al%20Qaeda%20and%20Daesh%20sanctions%20list.%20Its%20premier%20bank%20-%20the%20Habib%20Bank%20-%20had%20to%20shut%20shop%20after%20it%20was%20fined%20millions%20of%20dollars%20over%20terror%20financing.%26nbsp%3B

This%20is%20the%20country%20which%20was%20the%20open%20defender%20of%20Osama%20Bin%20Laded%20and%20the%20creator%20of%20the%20Taliban.%20It%20exports%20terror%20world%20over%20beyond%20continental%20barriers.%20This%20is%20the%20story%20of%20Naya%20Pakistan%20who%20cries%20wolf%20and%20tries%20to%20play%20its%20bluff.%26nbsp%3B

While%20ahead%20of%20FATF%20meeting%2C%20it%20mocks%20the%20international%20system%20by%20its%20deceptive%20manoeuvres%2C%20named%20terrorist%20and%20organisations%20operate%20freely%20in%20the%20country%20with%20some%20such%20as%20Salahuddin%20as%20%u2018bona%20fide%u2019%20officials%20of%20ISI.%26nbsp%3B

The%20US%20Country%20Report%20on%20Terrorism%20released%20on%20June%2023%2C%202020%2C%20said%3A%20%u201CPakistan%20allowed%20groups%20targeting%20Afghanistan%2C%20including%20the%20Afghan%20Taliban%20and%20affiliated%20Haqqani%20Network%2C%20as%20well%20as%20groups%20targeting%20India%2C%20including%20LeT%20and%20its%20affiliated%20front%20organisations%2C%20and%20Jaish-e-Mohammed%20to%20operate%20from%20its%20territory.%u201D

New%20York-based%20Castellum%20recently%20revealed%20that%20recently%20Pakistan%20quietly%20deleted%20nearly%203%2C800%20names%20from%20the%20Proscribed%20Persons%20List%20without%20explanation%21%20Sajid%20Mir%2C%20the%20top%20Lashkar-e-Taiba%20terrorist%20who%20joined%20the%20terror%20group%20after%20a%20career%20in%20Pakistan%20army%20that%20required%20him%20to%20train%20terrorists%2C%20expanded%20the%20terror%20group%u2019s%20reach%20across%20at%20least%20three%20continents%2C%20plotting%20terror%20attacks%20in%20Australia%2C%20Virginia%20in%20the%20United%20States%20and%20France.%26nbsp%3B

India%20has%20repeatedly%20highlighted%20in%20various%20forums%20that%20victims%20of%20the%2026/11%20Mumbai%20terror%20attack%20and%20the%20Pathankot%20terror%20attack%20are%20yet%20to%20get%20justice%20due%20to%20Pakistan%27s%20%22consistent%20ostrich%22%20attitude%20and%20sheltering%20the%20accused%20terrorists%20who%20were%20elaborately%20pinpointed%20in%20the%20NIA%20charge%20sheet.%26nbsp%3B

%3Cstrong%3EThe%20Challenge%20for%20FATF%3C/strong%3E

The%20challenge%20for%20FATF%20plenary%20is%20whether%20to%20blacklist%20Pakistan%20or%20give%20it%20another%20breather%20by%20retaining%20its%20grey%20status.%3Ci%3E%3Cstrong%3E%26nbsp%3B%3C/strong%3E%3C/i%3EThe%20blacklist%20makes%20it%20very%20difficult%20for%20a%20country%20to%20get%20international%20aid%20and%20bailout%20that%20Pakistan%20desperately%20needs%20especially%20from%20the%20global%20funding%20bodies%20like%26nbsp%3BIMF%2C%20World%20Bank%2C%20ADB%2C%20and%20the%20European%20Union.%26nbsp%3B

It%20also%20makes%20it%20more%20difficult%20for%20China%20to%20fund%20it%20at%20a%20time%20when%20itself%20is%20in%20dire%20straits.%20Saudi%20Arabia%20has%20also%20demanded%20that%20Pakistan%20should%20return%20the%20%243%20billion%20aid%20package%20as%20a%20penalty%20for%20Pakistan%u2019s%20volleying%20with%20Turkey%20and%20Malaysia%20against%20the%20Saudi-led%20OIC%20not%20playing%20the%20anti-India%20card.%20The%20situation%20is%20grim%20yet%20ironic%2C%20as%20a%20failed%20Pakistan%20can%20add%20to%20the%20chaos%20at%20this%20point%20of%20time%20of%20global%20geo-strategic%20instability.

So%20Pakistan%20will%20be%20looking%20at%20China%2C%20Malaysia%20and%20Turkey%20to%20back%20it%20at%20the%20FATF%20plenary%20meeting%20as%20the%20support%20of%20only%20three%20members%20is%20enough%20to%20thwart%20any%20planned%20blacklisting%20action.%26nbsp%3B

Ironically%20Malaysia%20is%20also%20the%20co-chair.%20Relations%20of%20India%20with%20China%2C%20Malaysia%20and%20Turkey%20have%20also%20taken%20a%20backstage.%20USA%20is%20also%20at%20a%20critical%20juncture%20of%20not%20only%20Afghanistan%20pull%20out%2C%20containing%20China%20but%20also%20the%20forecast%20of%20Presidential%20elections%20looming%20large.%20Thus%20it%20seems%20luck%20may%20favour%20Pakistan%u2019s%20blacklisting%20this%20time%2C%20yet%20good%20luck%20may%20not%20last%20forever%20in%20this%20dangerous%20gamble%20that%20Pakistan%20as%20a%20nation%20is%20adept.

%3Ca%20class%3D%22mention%22%20data-mention%3D%22%23Pakistan%22%20data-user-id%3D%22wizuXkuQ3rL8%22%20href%3D%22/topic/pakistan%22%3E%23Pakistan%3C/a%3E%20%3Ca%20class%3D%22mention%22%20data-mention%3D%22%23ImranKhan%22%20data-user-id%3D%22KURTXl2n9VN4%22%20href%3D%22/topic/imran-khan%22%3E%23ImranKhan%3C/a%3E%20%3Ca%20class%3D%22mention%22%20data-mention%3D%22%23Terrorism%22%20data-user-id%3D%22l2RF3BnXEMLE%22%20href%3D%22/topic/terrorism%22%3E%23Terrorism%3C/a%3E%20%3Ca%20class%3D%22mention%22%20data-mention%3D%22%23China%22%20data-user-id%3D%22gtTvlJMpH5eQ%22%20href%3D%22/topic/china%22%3E%23China%3C/a%3E%26nbsp%3B