All India Majlis-e-Ittehadul Muslimeen (AIMIM) chief Asaduddin Owaisi, speaking in Algeria on Saturday, May 31, issued a sharp rebuke of Pakistan’s terror links, accusing it of promoting Takfiri ideology and demanding its re-inclusion in the Financial Action Task Force (FATF) Grey List.
His remarks were made during an official visit by an Indian all-party delegation aimed at global engagement on cross-border terrorism.
“Pakistan is the epicentre of Takfirism and there is no difference in ideology between the terrorist groups in Pakistan and Daesh and Al-Qaeda,” Owaisi said. “They believe that they have a religious sanction, which is completely wrong. Islam does not allow the killing of any person, and unfortunately, that is their ideology,” he added.
Owaisi Cites Global Risk, Calls for Immediate Action
Drawing a direct line between Pakistan’s ideological extremism and global security, Owaisi stressed that India, as the world's fourth-largest economy, cannot afford to ignore the spillover effects of Pakistan-backed terrorism.
“It’s not only a question of South Asia,” he warned. “Do you want all this carnage to spread to different parts of South Asia? No. It is in the interest of world peace to control Pakistan, which is the main sponsor of terrorism. It has to be brought back in the FATF Grey list.”
The FATF had previously placed Pakistan on its Grey List three times, in 2008, 2012 and most recently from 2018 to 2022, over strategic failings in its anti-money laundering and counter-terror financing efforts.
Terror Trials Accelerated Under FATF Pressure, Says Owaisi
Owaisi pointed to past successes linked to Pakistan's Grey List status. “There was this one terrorist called Zakiur Rehman Lakhvi – no country in the world would allow a terrorist who’s facing a terror charge. He became a father to a son while sitting in prison. The trial progressed immediately when Pakistan was put on the Grey list.”
He added, “Once you bring Pakistan back in the Grey list, we will see a decrease in terrorism in India. We’ll see killings coming down.”
The Algerian leg of the delegation visit comes as another team, led by Congress MP Shashi Tharoor, prepares to engage with stakeholders in the United States on India’s anti-terrorism position.
