India Says ‘Fear of Scrutiny’ Behind Attempts to Question FATF Credibility at UN

India has strongly defended the credibility of the Financial Action Task Force (FATF), saying that attempts to question the global anti-money laundering and counter-terror financing watchdog reflect a “fear of scrutiny” rather than genuine procedural concerns, in remarks widely seen as a veiled reference to Pakistan. India’s Permanent Representative to the United Nations Parvathaneni Harish made the comments on Monday during a 2026 Counter-Terrorism Week side event titled “Joining Forces to Counter Terrorism Financing in the Context of Evolving Threats and Emerging Technologies.”

The event was jointly organised by India and France, along with the UN Counter-Terrorism Committee Executive Directorate (CTED), the United Nations Office of Counter-Terrorism (UNOCT), and the Global Internet Forum to Counter Terrorism (GIFCT). Harish said the FATF continues to serve as an “indispensable pillar” of the global counterterrorism financing and anti-money laundering framework. He emphasised that the body operates on technical, evidence-based assessments grounded in internationally accepted standards, and warned against efforts to politicise its functioning or undermine its credibility for strategic reasons.

According to him, countries facing adverse FATF assessments should focus on addressing identified deficiencies instead of attempting to discredit the institution. He said this includes strengthening domestic enforcement mechanisms, improving financial transparency, and taking sustained action against terrorist financing networks. He added that compliance must be demonstrated through “irreversible action” rather than rhetoric or symbolic measures.

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In a sharp message directed at states under scrutiny, Harish said that the appropriate response to FATF evaluation is not “politicised activism in UN forums” but credible compliance with global standards. He further stated that countries enabling the misuse of their territory, institutions, or financial systems for terrorist activities must stop “exporting instability” and instead fulfil their obligations toward international peace and security.

India also highlighted the growing complexity of terror financing in the modern era, noting that technological advancements have significantly expanded the avenues through which illicit funding can be raised and transferred. It pointed out that crowdfunding platforms, digital payment systems, and prepaid financial instruments have increasingly become part of the infrastructure used in global terrorist operations, making regulatory oversight more challenging.

The remarks come amid ongoing diplomatic debates at international forums over counter-terrorism compliance and financial accountability frameworks. India’s statement reaffirmed its position that global financial watchdogs like FATF must be protected from political interference and that states must be held accountable for any systemic failures that enable terrorism financing networks to operate.

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