India poised to challenge Pakistan on Masood Azhar at FATF

India is preparing to intensify scrutiny of Pakistan's handling of Masood Azhar at the upcoming Financial Action Task Force (FATF) plenary, leveraging recent statements from Afghanistan's Taliban regime that contradict Pakistan's assertions about the militant leader's presence in the country.

According to sources familiar with the matter, New Delhi's strategic approach hinges on the Taliban's recent public denial of Pakistan's claim that Azhar is currently sheltered in Afghanistan. This development provides India with a substantive diplomatic opening to question Pakistan's credibility regarding the tracking and monitoring of designated terror suspects on its soil or in areas under its influence.

The FATF, an intergovernmental organization focused on combating money laundering and terror financing, has been a key forum for international pressure on Pakistan regarding its handling of designated terrorists. Azhar, who heads the Jaish-e-Mohammed militant group, has long been a focal point of India's concerns about Pakistan's counter-terrorism commitments.

New Delhi's case is expected to highlight the contradictions in Pakistan's official positions and underscore gaps in implementing international sanctions regimes. The convergence of India's evidence and Afghanistan's statements could strengthen India's hand in pushing for stricter FATF conditions on Islamabad.

The timing of the Taliban's denial adds a new dimension to ongoing international scrutiny of Pakistan's terror finance monitoring mechanisms, which have faced persistent criticism from global watchdogs and India.