Najam Interviewed on VOA on Terror Financing Politics

Prof. Adil Najam, inaugural dean on the Pardee School of Global Studies at Boston University, was interviewed by the Voice of America for its Urdu service television news show View 360 on the U.S. move to place Pakistan on the grey list of the Financial Action Task Force (FATF), the global watchdog on terrorist financing policy. The interviewed was broadcast on Friday, February 23, 2018.

Interviewed while it was still unclear whether Pakistan had been placed on the grey list of FATF after intense diplomatic posturing by the United States at the watchdog’s Paris meeting this week, Najam argued that the political high drama in Paris was less about terrorism or financing and much more about the deteriorating diplomatic relations between USA and Pakistan. The interview, in Urdu, can be viewed here.

Najam suggested that while Pakistan being placed on the list will have little to no impact on either Pakistan’s economy or on global terrorism financing, this was one more signal that the United States is intent on being seen to be tough with Pakistan. He also suggested that the complex twists and turns of the votes at FATF suggests that certainly Pakistan, but also the United States now finds itself without too many strong allies at international forums.