India engages U.S. in plans to ‘grey list’ Pakistan at FATF session

Foreign Secretary Vikram Misri in Washington, D.C., on May 30, 2025. | Photo Credit: ANI

Foreign Secretary Vikram Misri, who was recently on a three-day visit to the U.S., engaged the American officials regarding the upcoming Financial Action Task Force (FATF) session, where India is expected to argue for grey listing Pakistan.

According to the Ministry of External Affairs, Mr. Misri — during his visit from May 27-29 — met a number of officials, including U.S. Deputy Secretary of State Christopher Landau, and both sides focused on “technology, trade and talent” as the pillars of the India-U.S. relationship.

“With Deputy Secretary of the Treasury Michael Faulkender, the Foreign Secretary discussed ways to deepen economic and financial ties, including collaboration in international financial institutions and coordination in the upcoming Financial Action Task Force (FATF) processes,” the MEA said in a statement about Mr. Misri’s visit, carried out as a part of India’s outreach to crucial partner countries following Operation Sindoor against terror targets in Pakistan.

The next plenary meeting of the Financial Action Task Force (FATF) is expected to take place in June, where India is planning to push for the re-inclusion of Pakistan in its ‘grey list’ of countries that are subject to increased scrutiny.

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The Hindu had earlier reported that the Government of India will also oppose further World Bank funding to Pakistan. India has been arguing that the security establishment of Pakistan has a direct link to terror outfits like the Lashkar-e-Taiba and Jaish-e-Mohammed that carry out cross-border terror attacks against Indian citizens, and that the terror link makes a compelling case to put all financial assistance to Pakistan under increased scrutiny.

India has already made a round of submissions to the Monitoring Team of the 1267 Sanctions Committee of the UN Security Council earlier in May. India’s campaign to squeeze Pakistan on the financial front is expected to intensify in the coming months.

Mr. Misri’s visit to the United States had additional diplomatic importance as U.S. President Donald Trump has been repeating that he used the trade card to bring the four-day military conflict between India and Pakistan to a pause on 10 May. He reiterated his contribution to the pause in India-Pakistan hostilities on Friday, saying, “We stopped India and Pakistan from fighting. I believe it could have turned out into a nuclear disaster.”

Mr. Misri reviewed the progress of the India-U.S. Bilateral Trade Agreement and cooperation in critical and emerging technologies during his meeting with Under Secretary of Commerce Jeffrey Kessler. The two officials agreed to convene the next meeting of the India-U.S. Strategic Trade Dialogue at the earliest opportunity.

In Mr. Misri’s meeting with Deputy Secretary of Defence Steve Feinberg and Under Secretary for Policy Elbridge Colby, both sides reiterated their commitment to a “robust and forward-looking defense partnership”. “Discussions focused on co-production and co-development initiatives, sustained joint military exercises, logistics and information-sharing frameworks, and enhancing interoperability between the armed forces,” the MEA said.

Published - May 31, 2025 09:51 pm IST