By(Amna Nisar Abbasi)US State‘s department and Pakistan’s Initiatives (2017-2022)

United Nations Secretary General Antonio Guterres at the seminar of National University of Sciences and Technology (NUST) Islamabad Pakistan on Feb 2020 said that, “We are witnessing the state becoming present, both from the point of view of security and, development in an absolutely remarkable transformation”. In the past, the country remained indulged in proxy war, their thousands of sacrifices brought peace in the region and saved our nation from becoming hostage by the terrorist organizations. During the last two decades, Pakistan’s economy came close to collapse owing to the deteriorating balance of payments. In order to cope with the economic and regional crisis faced by Pakistan; Banks introduced new and flexible terms of offering loans and for the transfer of payments. Unfortunately this was the time when not only terrorists but also the corrupt class benefited.  

 Pakistan was striving hard to uplift its economic pattern and for that sake they further constricted its anti-terror financing laws in July 2020, bills were presented to both houses of parliament. Houses passed these two time-bound FATF bills; the Anti-Terrorism (Amendment) Bill 2020, and the United Nations (Security Council) Amendment Bill 2020, for just to be taken off the country from the FATF’s ‘grey list’ on which it was placed in June 2018 and appear in a much better placed for its next consideration by the Financial Action Task Force. Whereas the International Monitoring Agency on money laundering and terror financing in February 2020, had acknowledged Pakistan’s achievement that; it had accomplished 14 items of the 27-points raised in action plan at last FATF’s meeting. Not only this UN Secretary General acknowledged Pakistan’s achievement and its role in national and regional security but also appreciated their involvement in the UN peacekeeping mission.  On one side Pakistan was receiving gracious remarks from the International organizations whereas on other hand Pakistan is alleged for feeding the terrorist organizations. The US state department alleged Pakistan for their constant source of serving as a safe haven for certain “regionally focused terrorist groups” that targeted Afghanistan, including the Afghan Taliban and the affiliated powerful Haqqani network, as well as groups targeting India such as the Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT), its affiliated organizations, and the Jaish-e-Muhammad (JeM), to operate from its territory in Country Report on Terrorism 2019 i. This was not new for the Pakistan to receive such statements ; the 2017 annual report alleged that, “Pakistan did not take sufficient action against other externally focused groups such as Lashkar e-Tayyiba (LeT) and Jaish-e-Mohammad (JeM), which continued to operate, train, organize, and fundraise in Pakistan” whereas the 2018 report considered Pakistan’s actions to contain regionally focused groups are ineffective. Soon after the report published in June 2020, Statement by the spokesperson of Foreign Ministry Islamabad came where they stated that; the US Country Report on Terrorism ignored its “crucial role” in degrading Al Qaeda in the region and “diminishing the threat that the terrorist groups once posed to the world”.  History is witnessing; Pakistan’s role as a frontline state in both Afghan wars has remained critical and significant to date with numerous achievements In order to clear Pakistan from terrorist and clique of terrorists. Pakistan always has a stance; always respects the sovereignty and integrity of other states, which has been proven in the Afghan peace process. Then Foreign Minister of Pakistan Shah Mehmood Qureshi emphasized the perspective of Pakistan in many forums even during Speaking at the conference in the last week of September 2020 he said that; Pakistan respects the sovereignty, independence and territorial integrity of Afghanistan. He categorically said Pakistan has no favorites in Afghanistan and it does not want to meddle in its internal affairs. Report on Terrorism 2019 has failed to acknowledge its role and support for afghan peace process, though this annual report still raised many questions because peace process started in 2018 and Pakistan’s role in this regard not only acknowledged by the secretary of State Mike Pompeo at several forums but also by the Chairman High Council for National Reconciliation Abdullah Abdullah in his talk during his visit at Institute of Strategic Studies Islamabad on 29th September, 2020. Pakistan has received 4-5 reports of Terrorism from the states’ department but most of the reports did not acknowledge Pakistan‘s efforts but Pakistan’s wide range systemic reforms from last 5 years positively contributed to come off from the gray list which would considerably enhance Pakistan’s standing in the world and defuse the threat that has hung like a sword over its economy.