India has reaffirmed that the Financial Action Task Force (FATF) remains indispensable in the global fight against terror financing and money laundering, stressing its role as a credible, evidence-based mechanism for international financial security.
Speaking at the UN Counter-Terrorism Week 2026, India’s Permanent Representative to the UN, Ambassador P. Harish, emphasized that FATF’s standards are technical and objective, and countries facing adverse assessments must strengthen enforcement rather than criticize the process.
India highlighted its own measures, including bringing virtual asset service providers under anti-money laundering frameworks and tightening verification rules for financial exchanges, as examples of credible compliance.
The statement came in response to Pakistan’s repeated criticism of FATF as politically motivated, which India rejected as fear of scrutiny rather than genuine concerns. India underscored that the answer lies in transparent reforms, not politicized activism.
India co-hosted the UN side event with France, underlining its leadership role in shaping global counter-terror financing frameworks and reinforcing FATF’s centrality in safeguarding international financial systems.
