Lakhvi's sentencing ahead of FATF meet a farce, says India

India remains unimpressed by the 15-year sentence handed to Mumbai attack mastermind Zaki-ur-Rehman Lakhvi by a court in Pakistan on Friday. Labelling it a farce, the ministry of external affairs has said the timing is only to suggest compliance ahead of the Asia Pacific Joint Group meet and the Financial Action Task Force (FATF) plenary meet in February.

“It has become routine for Pakistan to come up with such farcical actions prior to important meetings,’’ said MEA Spokesperson Anurag Srivastava. 

An anti-terror court in Lahore sentenced Lakhvi—who had been on bail since 2015—for commission of offences of terrorism financing to five years of rigorous imprisonment each on three counts with a fine of PKR 100,000 (approximately USD 620) each on three counts, according to agency reports. Lakhvi was arrested on Saturday by the counter-terrorism department in Punjab. 

“The UN proscribed entities and designated terrorists act as proxies for Pakistani establishment to fulfill its anti-India agenda. It is for the international community to hold Pakistan to account and ensure that it takes credible action against terror groups, terror infrastructure and individual terrorists,’’ said Srivastava.

The arrest—and the sentencing—comes ahead of the crucial FATF meeting. Pakistan continues to remain on the grey list. In October, FATF president Marcus Pleyer had said that Pakistan had “made progress.” 

“It has largely completed 21 items of the 27; it definitely means that the world has become safer, but the six outstanding items mean the risks have not gone. The Pakistan government must do its best to repair and work on these outstanding six items,” Pleyer had been quoted as saying.

Meanwhile, as the chair of the Taliban sanctions committee at the United Nations Security Council, India will be keeping a close watch on cross-border terrorism. India’s permanent representative T.S Tirumurti—without naming Pakistan—has made it clear. “Our chairing this committee at this juncture will help keep the focus on the presence of terrorists and their sponsors threatening the peace process in Afghanistan. It has been our view that the peace process and violence cannot go hand in hand,’’ he said.

Responding to a question on India being the chair of the committee, Srivastava said: “With regard to Afghanistan, India and Afghanistan as contiguous neighbours share a natural historical relationship. Our strategic partnership and long-term commitment to the development of Afghanistan reflects this time-tested partnership. We have invested heavily in peace and development in Afghanistan and we support all efforts to bring peace and stability there.’’