ISLAMABAD: In a meeting with US chief diplomat for South Asian affairs, Alice Wells on Monday, Interior Minister Brig (R) Ijaz Ahmad Shah highlighted the country’s progress in meeting the criteria set by the Financial Action Task Force (FATF) and the initiatives taken for the same.
It’s part of a three-day meeting with FATF’s Asia Pacific Group (APG) which began in Beijing today.
Wells arrived in Islamabad on Sunday as part of a four-day visit which is aimed at discussing the peace process in Afghanistan, in addition to bilateral and regional issues, the US embassy in Islamabad said in a statement released on the same day.
She met with Brig. Shah a day later where she was apprised of the progress made on FATF-related matters by the authorities assigned with the task. “There has been significant progress on both legislative and administrative matters,” a statement released by the ministry said, adding that the “execution process has also been completed to a greater extent.”
Shah said that Pakistan’s new regulations have “proved to be very helpful in our progress”.
“The US delegation applauded the progress made by the Government of Pakistan despite the scarcity of resources. The meeting concluded with a promise to enhance ties in future ventures,” the statement said.
While addressing the issue of illegal immigrants, Shah said that the government had managed to streamline the process and curb the menace in a successful manner
“In order to facilitate cooperation, the verification of travel documents, including passports, has been streamlined. This has greatly helped in expediting the processes,” the statement read.
Wells also met with Abdul Razak Dawood, Adviser to Prime Minister of Pakistan for Commerce, on Monday whereby the two discussed matters of bilateral trade “The US is eager to increase the trade potential between our two nations. Ms. Wells is of the opinion that agriculture is one sector where immediate progress can be made,” Razak tweeted on Monday.
Wells has been on a tour of South Asia since January 13 and visited Sri Lanka and India prior to her arrival in Pakistan.
Her visit to Islamabad follows closely on the heels of Pakistan’s Foreign Minister Shah Mehmood Qureshi’s recent trip to the US where he interacted with senior United Nations and American officials in New York and Washington.
According to Amir Rana, director of prominent Islamabad-based think tank, Pakistan Institute of Peace Studies, the Afghan peace deal will be top of Wells’ agenda during her Pakistan tour.
Pakistan’s role in recent developments in the Middle East has positioned it as “an effective backdoor communication channel between Iran and the United States,” he added.
In a news briefing in Washington on Friday, Qureshi strongly urged the US to help get Pakistan off the grey-list of global anti-money laundering watchdog, the Financial Action Task Force (FATF) at a decisive meeting in Beijing next month. A downgrade from the grey-list could result in crippling economic sanctions.
During the briefing, Qureshi said Pakistan had fulfilled its commitments to the US on facilitating the Afghanistan peace process, brought the Taliban to the negotiating table and assisted in releasing western hostages from insurgents — and had met FATF’s demands.
The foreign minister reminded Washington: “Pakistan fulfilled your expectations. Now, we too had some expectations, what have you done (for us)?”— hinting Pakistan expected the US would help Islamabad in turn.
The US has consistently enlisted Pakistan’s help in facilitating rocky US-Taliban negotiations, which are reported to be inching near a peace deal this month.
“This is a sequel to Foreign Minister Qureshi’s visit, to coordinate the expected peace deal signing with the Taliban and potential US troops’ pullout from Afghanistan,” leading security analyst, Imtiaz Gul, told Arab News.
Political expert Taimur Shamil told Arab News: “FATF is a tool to politically pressure Pakistan to do America’s bidding in Afghanistan. It... will likely continue till the Afghan issue is resolved.”
Wells is expected to meet Prime Minister Imran Khan and army chief General Qamar Javed Bajwa during her visit, as well as foreign minister Qureshi.
Her last visit to Pakistan was in August last year.
Alice Wells in Pakistan to discuss Afghan peace talks
https://arab.news/8fumu
Alice Wells in Pakistan to discuss Afghan peace talks
- US diplomat met with interior minister and PM’s adviser on commerce on Monday
- Four-day visit follows Foreign Minister Qureshi’s recent trip to the US
Babar Azam ends century drought as Pakistan seal Sri Lanka ODI series
- Pakistan chase down 289 with strong partnerships by Azam, Fakhar Zaman and Mohammad Rizwan
- Sri Lanka’s 288–8, anchored by Janith Liyanage’s 54, wasn’t enough after multiple dropped catches
RAWALPINDI: Babar Azam hit his first international century since August 2023 to lift Pakistan to an emphatic eight-wicket win over Sri Lanka in the second day-night international on Friday.
Azam notched an unbeaten 102 for his 20th one-day international century to help Pakistan overtake Sri Lanka’s 289-run target at Rawalpindi Stadium.
The win gave Pakistan a 2-0 unassailable lead in the three-match series with the final match on Sunday. Pakistan won the first match by six runs — all in Rawalpindi.
Arriving at the crease amidst a huge roar from the crowd after opener Saim Ayub fell for 33 in the 10th over, Azam played his famous cover drives to perfection.
He reached the three-figure mark with a pulled single off pacer Pramod Madushan, raised his bat to the crowd before bowing to the ground.
Azam had gone 33 ODI innings without a hundred and 82 innings in all, including Tests and Twenty20 internationals.
Azam added a 100-run stand for the second wicket with Fakhar Zaman who scored an aggressive 78 with a six and eight boundaries to set up a successful chase.
Sri Lanka fumbled in the field, dropping Zaman on 20, 28 and 78 before Janith Liyanage pulled off a stunner off pacer Dushmantha Chameera but it was too late.
Building on the platform, Mohammad Rizwan, who scored 51 not out, added another 112 for the unbroken third wicket stand with Azam deservedly hitting the winning single.
Azam cracked eight boundaries while Rizwan’s knock had a six and five boundaries.
A delighted Azam said: “I was also waiting for my century, so I am thankful to the Almighty,” said Azam. “It is more delightful that it has come in the team’s win.”
Sri Lankan skipper Charith Asalanka said: “We were outclassed by Pakistan.
“We did not score a big total and then had quite a few dropped catches which did not help us.”
Earlier, spinner Abrar Ahmed finished with 3-41 while pace bowler Haris Rauf claimed 3-66 as Sri Lanka scored 288-8 after they were sent in to bat.
Liyanage top-scored with a fighting 54, hitting a six and two fours.
Liyanage added 61 for the fifth wicket with Sadeera Samarawickrama, who made 42, and another 73 for the sixth with Kamindu Mendis, who scored 44.
Sri Lanka made a confident start of 51 before Pathum Nissanka was run out for 24 attempting a third run.
Abrar then derailed the innings with three wickets, removing Kamil Mishara for 27, Kusal Mendis for 20 and Asalanka for six in the space of 36 runs.
Rauf dismissed Samarawickrama and Kamindu to compensate for the absence of captain Shaheen Shah Afridi, who missed the match with a fever.
Wanindu Hasaranga chipped in with a brisk unbeaten 37 off 26 balls, adding 44 at the end with Pramod Madushan, who was 11 not out.
The second ODI was delayed by a day after several Sri Lankan players considered abandoning the tour over security fears following Tuesday’s suicide bombing in Islamabad, just a few miles from the stadium.
But the Pakistan Cricket Board and Sri Lanka Cricket managed to convince the players to stay with enhanced security measures.
