The United States says it “recognizes and supports” Pakistan’s efforts to implement the FATF action plan

• The United States recognizes Pakistan’s efforts to make progress in the FATF action plan.
• “We do further encourage Pakistan to quickly implement its new second action plan,” Ned Price said.
• The State Department stated that Afghanistan’s neighbors can play a role in the peace process.

Washington: A few days after India acknowledged its negative role in keeping Pakistan on the FATF greylist, the United States stated that Pakistan has made “significant progress” on its first action plan, of which 26 27 action items “mainly resolved”.

At a regular press conference on Monday, State Department spokesperson Ned Price said: “We recognize and support Pakistan’s continued efforts to fulfill these obligations.”

The State Department spokesperson was asked to comment on Indian Foreign Minister S Jaishankar’s acknowledgment that Pakistan was included on the FATF grey list due to the “efforts of the Narendra Modi government.”

read more: Jaishankar’s statement on FATF exposes India’s “true colors”: Pakistan

Price said that the United States encourages Pakistan to continue to cooperate with FATF and the international community to quickly complete the remaining operations by proving terrorist financing, investigating and prosecuting senior leaders and commanders of UN-designated groups.

“We do further encourage Pakistan to quickly implement its new second action plan.”

Afghanistan issue

After Kabul recalled senior diplomats from Islamabad, the State Department was also asked to speak on the kidnapping of the daughter of the Afghan envoy to Pakistan.

“Afghanistan’s neighbours do have a role to play. I would add that real and material support for the peace process in Afghanistan is critical to its ultimate success, as is the long-term relationship between Afghanistan and Pakistan,” he said.

read more: FM Qureshi stated that Pakistan will ensure the transparency of the incident involving the daughter of the Afghan ambassador

He added that the United States certainly hopes to see Afghanistan’s neighbors play a constructive and responsible role to achieve a just and lasting solution in Afghanistan. “We understand that Pakistan also has the potential to play a key role in this regard.”

Peace talks

He also urged Afghan groups to continue to negotiate peace. The official mentioned that the Afghan government and the Taliban have issued a joint statement announcing that negotiations will be accelerated to achieve an inclusive political settlement.

“Of course we welcome this statement. We want to see follow-up actions because we — as we said, continue to believe that only a negotiated settlement can end the 40 years of conflict endured by the Afghan people, and we urge the Taliban to stick to the joint statement — —The statement I just mentioned — protecting Afghanistan’s infrastructure, protecting civilians, and cooperating in humanitarian assistance. We are of course very happy to see these commitments in this declaration, and now we are looking forward to seeing follow-up actions.”