Hizbul chief facing heat after terror watchdog FATF retains Pak in grey list

Ever since Pakistan has been retained in the Financial Action Task Force’s (FATF) “grey list”, there is pressure on Islamabad to take action against Hizbul Mujahiddeen (HM) chief Syed Salaudeen, India’s most wanted and internationally proscribed terrorist, who so far has been living a lavish life under protection of Pakistan’s ISI and military.

According to sources, since the remaining three “action plan” concerns targeted financial sanctions (TFS) and terrorist financing investigation against designated terrorists, Salaudeen is fearing detention or prosecution in Pakistan.

The global terror financing watchdog on Thursday had retained Pakistan on its “grey list” after concluding that the country failed to fully implement the 27 point action plan that the watchdog had drawn up for Pakistan.

In October last year, the FATF had asked Pakistan, to deliver on all 27 points by this February. However, it failed in this regard.

FATF in its ruling had said Pakistan should continue to work on implementing the three remaining items in its action plan to address its strategic deficiencies, including “demonstrating effective implementation of targeted financial sanctions against all 1267 and 1373 designated terrorists, specifically those acting for or on their behalf.”

In September 2016, Salahuddin vowed to block any peaceful resolution to the Kashmir conflict, threatened to train more Kashmiri suicide bombers, and vowed to turn the Kashmir valley “into a graveyard for Indian forces”, according to the US State Department.

Under Salahuddin, HM has claimed responsibility for several attacks, including the April 2014 explosives attack in the state of Jammu and Kashmir, which injured 17 people.