Terror Funds

The Eurasian Group (EAG) has identified more than 600 people linked to international networks involved in terror financing this year, its top official said here. Identifying ways of financing international terrorists and their financiers has emerged as the biggest challenge at present and this issue was discussed at length during the 41st plenary meeting of the EAG comprising nine countries, EAG chairman Yuri Chikhanchin said on Friday. He was addressing a press conference after the conclusion of the five-day meet that began on November 25. Belarus, China, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, India, Russia, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan and Uzbekistan are the nine member countries of the EAG. "This is the biggest challenge that we are facing - identifying channels of financing, financiers and sustainment of international terrorists because we all are international these days," Chikhanchin said. "This year itself, over 600 people have been identified in our region via the analysis of financial ...

A Delhi court would likely pronounce on November 19 its order on a bail plea of Lok Sabha MP from J&K's Baramulla, Engineer Rashid, in an alleged case of terror funding. Additional Sessions Judge Chander Jit Singh, who was scheduled to pass the order on Monday, adjourned the matter. The judge had on September 10 granted interim bail to Sheikh Abdul Rashid, alias Engineer Rashid, to enable him to campaign for the Jammu and Kashmir assembly elections while deferring the order on his regular bail plea. Rashid's interim bail was previously extended till October 28 on the ground of his father's poor health. The National Investigation Agency (NIA) hadn't opposed the plea after verifying the documents. Rashid has been lodged in Tihar jail since 2019 after the NIA arrested him under the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act in the 2017 terror funding case. Elections to the 90-member J&K Assembly were held in three phases between September 18 and October 1. The results were declared on .

Global anti-money laundering and terror financing body FATF on Thursday launched its much-awaited mutual evaluation report on India, saying the county's systems were "effective" but "major improvements" were required to strengthen prosecution in these cases. The 368-page report was released after the assessment was adopted by the Paris-headquartered body at its June plenary meeting. The last such review of India's combating of money laundering and terror financing regime was published in 2010. The report, which comes after an on-site visit of FATF experts to India last November, has placed the country in the "regular follow up" category, a distinction shared by only four other G20 countries. India will undergo its next evaluation in 2031. The report said India implemented such an anti-money laundering (AML) and combating financing of terror (CFT) system that was effective in many respects. It, however, said "major improvements" were required to strengthen the prosecution in money

The joint statement stated that the India-US AML/CFT Dialogue is an effective forum for both countries to share perspectives and best practises on how to strengthen the collective efforts

A Delhi court has dismissed the bail application of Alemla Jamir, a self-styled "cabinet minister" of the NSCN-IM, in a case of alleged terror funding, saying there was evidence that the insurgent group was running a parallel government in Nagaland. Special Judge Shailender Malik, who also dismissed the bail application of Jamir's co-accused, Masasasong Ao, noted that though there were talks of ceasefire between the NSCN (IM) and the central government, it was made clear in those agreements that only the army, paramilitary forces and local police would have the power of patrolling and the NSCN would not undertake any offensive operations such as ambush, raid, sniping and attack on any of the property of the state. "Coupled with the fact that arms were recovered at the instance of Jamir, there is also evidence showing running of parallel government which was never acknowledged under any peace accord," the judge said "All these clearly established that accusation against the accused .

For a nation such as India, which is among the countries most affected by terrorism, this is a time to take the lead in continuing to keep the spotlight on the menace of terrorism

India is likely to set up a secretariat to deal with anti-money laundering and combating the financing of terrorism issues under the global 'No Money for Terror' initiative. The country indicated this at the third 'No Money for Terror' conference which concluded on Saturday, a senior government functionary said. The two-day conference here was attended by 450 delegates from over 75 nations and international organisations. "India is keen to establish a secretariat to deal with anti-money laundering/ combating the financing of terrorism (AML/CFT) issues. Discussions are going on with international partners in this direction," the functionary said. New Delhi is also optimistic to institutionalise the 'No Money for Terror' conference by ensuring it as an annual event, the functionary said. The global watchdog on terror financing and money laundering, Financial Action Task Force (FATF), which participated in the conference, has also expressed willingness to work closely on AML and CFT

The US blocked $63 million in funds of designated terrorist groups, including Pakistan-based outfits, in 2019 as part of its crackdown on foreign terrorist organisations

America is, and must remain, a force for good, and our precious freedoms, which we all take for granted - the very nectar of American Exceptionalism born of our cherished separated powers regime

Seven people were arrested on Tue over allegations of providing funds to terror groups in Kashmir