In an indirect reference to Pakistan, Union Home Minister Amit Shah on Saturday told the Financial Action Task Force (FATF) chief T Raja Kumar that there is a need for the international watchdog on terror financing and money laundering to continuously monitor the tendencies of some countries to sponsor terrorism. Shah’s meeting with FATF chief was one among the number of bilateral meetings he had on the sidelines of the two-day 'No Money For Terror (NMFT)' conference.
"In the bilateral meeting with FATF President, Shri T Raja Kumar, Home Minister @AmitShah while appreciating the role of FATF, emphasised that there is need for FATF to continuously monitor the tendencies of some of the countries to sponsor terrorism," Amit Shah's office tweeted.
Kumar lauded the initiative taken by India for hosting the 'No Money For Terror (NMFT)' conference and expressed the willingness of FATF to work closely on Anti-Money Laundering/Combating the Financing of Terrorism (AML/CFT) issues under India's G-20 priorities.
At the conference, Kumar also called for a push to tackle terrorist financing and warned that Islamist extremist and far-right terrorist groups are using covert methods to transfer funds, including the use of crypto assets, the FATF tweeted. FATF had only recently removed Pakistan from the list of countries under “increased monitoring” (Grey List).
For his part, Nigerian Minister of Interior Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola met Shah and discussed several crucial issues, including political, trade and commerce, defence, capacity building, development partnership, consular issues etc.
"Nigerian Minister appreciated India's support in all aspects including regional and multilateral fora and fondly recalled Nigerian President Buhari's defence training in India in 1973. Looking forward to closely working with Nigeria on issues of mutual concern," Shah's office said in another tweet.
Shah also met Binalf Andualem, Minister of Peace, Federal Democratic Republic of Ethiopia and discussed bilateral, multilateral and regional issues of mutual interest.
"The Minister thanked India for its continued support through trade and commerce, capacity building and people-to-people contact. Both nations agreed to cooperate in fighting the menace of terrorism and extremism," Shah's office said in yet another tweet.
The dignitaries are here to attend the third 'No Money for Terror' Ministerial Conference on Counter-Terrorism Financing hosted by the Ministry of Home Affairs.
The conference is being attended by 450 delegates from over 75 nations and international organisations.
