‘Indulging in terrorism for many years’: Asaduddin Owaisi slams Pakistan as 'epicentre of Takfirism' during Gulf tour, calls for FATF action

NEW DELHI: All India Majlis-e-Ittehadul Muslimeen (AIMIM) chief Asaduddin Owaisi, who was part of a multi-party delegation led by BJP MP Baijayant Panda to four Gulf countries, launched a scathing attack on Pakistan on Wednesday, accusing it of sponsoring terrorism through illicit financial networks and promoting extremist ideologies.Speaking to news agency ANI, Owaisi described Pakistan as the “epicentre of Takfirism” and alleged that its government, deep state, and intelligence agency ISI were complicit in funding terror groups. “We represented India over there... and told them Pakistan has been indulging in terrorism in India for many years,” he said. He added that the Resistance Front, which was behind the April 22 Pahalgam terror attack, was essentially a front for Lashkar-e-Taiba, and India's concerns had already been conveyed to the United Nations Security Council’s 1262 sanctions committee.Owaisi further referred to Pakistani Army Chief Asim Munir’s speech on April 15, implying its alignment with extremist ideology. “Terrorism survives on two things, ideology and money,” he said, urging the international community to act on both fronts. “A form of polio exists only in two countries, Afghanistan and Pakistan… there is 40% poverty in Pakistan, so where is the money going?”He noted that the four nations visited, Saudi Arabia, Kuwait, Bahrain, and Algeria, were part of groups like the Organisation of Islamic Cooperation (OIC), Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC), and Middle East and North Africa Financial Action Task Force (MENAFATF), and had previously backed India’s diplomatic push to place Pakistan on the Financial Action Task Force (FATF) grey list in 2018.

During their stop in Algeria, Owaisi reiterated that “there is no ideological difference between the terrorist groups in Pakistan and Daesh and Al-Qaeda”. He stressed that Islam does not permit violence and said the international community must act against countries that provide ideological and financial shelter to terrorists.He also said that placing Pakistan back on the FATF grey list would significantly reduce terror attacks in India.

“Once you bring Pakistan back in the grey list, we will see a decrease in terrorism in India… we have the 2018 experience when Algeria and other countries helped India,” he said.Referring to the case of 26/11 handler Zakiur Rehman Lakhvi, Owaisi added, “The trial progressed immediately when Pakistan was put on the Grey list. That tells you how effective FATF can be.”The eight-member delegation, including MPs Nishikant Dubey, Phangnon Konyak, Rekha Sharma, Satnam Singh Sandhu, Ghulam Nabi Azad, and former foreign secretary Harsh Vardhan Shringla, met leaders and think tanks in the four countries to highlight India’s stand on terrorism, particularly following the Pahalgam attack and Operation Sindoor.According to news agency PTI, the delegation also presented its feedback to external affairs minister S Jaishankar on Tuesday. Jaishankar reportedly congratulated the delegation and said the objectives of the visit were fulfilled. “All four countries have taken clear steps against terrorism and understand India’s principled stand,” said Panda.