Dr. Zahid Anwar Khan (IR Expert): Foreign Minister Shah Mahmood Qureshi has aptly said that FATF should decide things on technical parameters and not on political ones. It is a big achievement that Pakistan has completed 26 out of 27 action points. Pakistan is a victim of double standards of international organizations. India should have been blacklisted due to aggressive policies towards its neighbours, uranium smuggling and a host of other issues. Pakistan’s foreign policy has seen remarkable changes and it points towards a self-reliant nation. Pakistan has adopted a bold stance on many regional and international issues of concern.

Dr. Huma Baqai (IR Expert): Foreign policy of Pakistan has been perceived in well-articulated manner during the reign of PTI-led government. Frequent visits of foreign dignitaries to Pakistan depict growing importance of the country in world affairs and project successful moves of our foreign policy. Whenever Prime Minister Imran Khan visited abroad, he was warmly received by the world leaders.

Dr. Rasul Bakhsh Rais (IR Expert): There are reports that many areas of Afghanistan have fallen to Taliban. The list of areas captured by Taliban is constantly growing. Taking Kabul by force is not acceptable as it would create more strife and civil war. If conflict expands in the neighboring country, Islamabad will face trouble as more and more refugees could seek refuge in Pakistan. Afghan issue must be resolved by political process and according to the will of the people of Afghanistan. Pakistan is ready to be part of peace talks as there is no military solution to this conflict. The decision of FATF to keep Pakistan in grey list is unfair as Islamabad has successfully made progress on 26 out of 27 points of Financial Action Task Force.

Najam us Saqib (Former Diplomat): Pakistan is now at a take off stage in foreign policy domain. Our relations have significantly improved with neighbouring as well as friendly countries. We are now in the second phase of China Pakistan Economic Corridor where projects of human development are being completed alongside infrastructure development. As far as the FATF is concerned, we must keep in mind that this organization is not aimed at casting a shadow on Pakistan. This forum covers a large number of countries and keeps an eye on shady financial transaction in various jurisdictions. We should also look at the factors due to which we are not member of regional groups of FATF. In April 2019, FATF decided that money laundering and terrorism financing as well as nuclear proliferation are the issues of concern for the whole world. We have to face reality and make laws to conform to the international laws.