Global watchdog has said Pakistan 'does not demonstrate a proper understanding' of terrorism financing risks

New Delhi: Pakistan has sought more time from the Paris-based Financial Action Task Force (FATF) to curtail the activities of terrorist groups on its soil, worried that a knock-on effect could drag the nation’s struggling economy.

Foreign Office spokesperson Mohammad Faisal said Pakistan would “immediately enforce the sanctions” on Azhar. He added Prime Minister Imran Khan had “clearly stated there is no space for any proscribed organisation or its affiliates to operate from Pakistani territory”.

The Uri attack came within months of the assault on Pathankot airbase, which was planned and executed by Azhar and his brothers Athar Ibrahim and Rauf Asghar. These organisations are only relevant to the Pakistani military establishment till such time that they target India.

While China lifted its technical hold on Masood Azhar’s listing as a global terrorist, Pakistan appeared to have reconciled to the latest development and did not object to it any longer.

Pakistan’s all-weather ally China had proposed to lift its technical hold on the Azhar ban around May 15 before the last round of polling for the seven-phase Lok Sabha elections.