New Delhi
Global terror watchdog FATF has condemned the Pahalgam attack of April 22, which killed 26 tourists in Jammu and Kashmir. In its official statement, the Financial Action Task Force has highlighted that the Pahalgam attack and other terror attacks could not take place without “money and funds" from terror supporters.
"Terrorist attacks kill, maim and inspire fear around the world. The FATF notes with grave concern and condemns the brutal terrorist attack in Pahalgam on 22 April 2025. This, and other recent attacks, could not occur without money and the means to move funds between terrorist supporters," reads the official statement issued by the FATF.
In its statement the FATF, without naming Pakistan, added it will be setting out a framework to combat terrorist financing.
The FATF has also "enhanced its focus on the effectiveness of measures countries have put in place. That is how, through our mutual evaluations, we have identified gaps that need to be addressed. The FATF has developed guidance on terrorist financing risk to support experts that contribute to evaluations of the 200+ jurisdictions in the Global Network," the official statement added.
The global watchdog's statement comes against the backdrop of heightened tensions between India and Pakistan after the April 22 attack.
While Pakistan has denied involvement in the Pahalgam attack, Indian authorities have linked Pakistan-based terror organisation - Lashkar-e-Taiba - and its offshoot group TRF to the terror attack.
Following the attack, Indian authorities have also flagged Pakistan's support and funding for cross-border terrorism.
Framework to combat terror financing
FATF, which had removed Pakistan from the grey list in 2022, urged for unified response against global terrorism, and said that it will be setting up a framework to combat terrorist financing.
The FATF also quoted its chief's recent remarks during a conference in Munich as it urged unified response against the "scourge of global terrorism".
Pakistan has been on FATF's grey list several times. It first appeared on the list in 2008, but was removed two years later, before it reappeared in 2012. The name was removed again in 2015, brought back in 2018, before being finally removed in October 2022.