ISLAMABAD – The way US has penalised and pressurised the world opinionagainst Pakistan in the Financia Action Task Force and subsequent reportsthat America may be moving World Bank and IMF against Pakistan shouldclearly tell policy makers in Isamabad and Rawapindi that US is no more anally or friend of Pakistan.

Classic confusion prevailed throughout the weekend whether or not Pakistanhas been put on the watch-list of countries financing terrorism by theFinancial Action Task Force (FATF).

Indian media and some sections of the international media claimed that thecountry has been placed on the grey list and the development followed inthe second round of voting when the United States persuaded other countriesto drop opposition and the only country that stood with Pakistan wasTurkey.

Though Pakistan has not been included in a list of countries with‘strategic deficiencies’ in countering money laundering and combatingfinancing for terrorism as the nine countries officially put on thewatch-list are Ethiopia, Iraq, Serbia, Sri Lanka, Syria, Trinidad andTobago, Tunisia, Vanuatu and Yemen, Advisor on Finance Mifta Ismail, wholed Pakistan delegation at the fateful meeting has confirmed that thecountry was already on the grey list and it could be placed in black listin June this year if it failed to take measures as demanded by FATF.

Foreign Minister Khawaja Muhammad Asif had proudly claimed that the countrygot three month reprieve from the FATF thanks to the support extended bysome friendly countries.

However, the latest development shows his satisfaction was premature andindicated that Pakistani officials and leaders including those sitting inthe Finance and Foreign Ministries were totally blind or ignorant about theworking and procedures of the Task Force.

They took pride in foiling the initial attempt of the United States,Britain, France and Germany but could not foresee that tables could beturned. Why they failed to keep themselves continuously and aggressivelyengaged with friends and others till conclusion of the meeting?

What happened between the first and the second voting that changed thesituation against us? It is all the more regrettable that while the entirePakistani media was quoting Indian media on FATF, there was no confirmationor denial from the relevant people in the relevant ministries. ForeignOffice spokesman, who is otherwise media friendly and forthcoming, evadedresponding to queries by journalists and even did not bother to attendtheir calls.

Anyhow, putting Pakistan back on the list would not make much difference asthe country remained on the list previously and managed to survive. Wewould manage this time too but there are serious issues, points andquestions involved, which need to be debated, considered and explained bythe relevant institutions and ministries.

The machinations used by the United States to penalize and pressurizePakistan on the issue should be an eye-opener for our policy makers thatWashington was no more friend or ally of Pakistan. A clear distinction hasbeen made and message sent and our future policies should be based on theground realities.

It is also a source of concern that we could effectively engage andconvince our friends despite the fact that we done in the war on terrormore than any other country of the world. Worst is the fact that theParliament, which is supposed to be the only place where issues like FATFmoves should have been debated and decisions made, has been turnedirrelevant mainly because of lack of interest by the parliamentarians inupholding dignity of the house and encroachment upon its domain by otherinstitutions. It is people of people who ultimately suffer from thedecisions made the government and other institutions in unilateral mannersand therefore, they must be taken into confidence on every occasion andbefore taking any important move.

Three months would pass quickly and there are apprehensions that theauthorities concerned might not be able to concentrate on the issue becauseof election fever. Therefore, the issue should be brought before theParliament on priority basis and guidelines sought in the interest of thecountry.

It is time for the relevant ministries to do their homework minutely duringthese three months keeping in view what the international law requires usto do and take appropriate measures on fast track basis but in a calculatedmanner. Officials of the relevant ministries and institutions should havebrainstorming sessions on what happened and how to go for damage control.

The impression that Pakistan stands diplomatically isolated would also bedemoralizing and therefore, Pakistani missions abroad should be briefed andactivated to take counter measures.