Pakistan is known to be a safe haven to about 130 UNSC-sanctioned terrorists

The Indian security establishment has laid its hands on a document that confirms Syed Salahuddin, head of the banned terrorist group, Hizbul Mujahideen, works as a bona fide official of ISI. Salahuddin is also the head of United Jihad Council, which is an umbrella body of terror outfits, including Lashkar-e-Taiba and Jaish-e-Mohammad.

“It is certified that Syed Muhammad Yousaf Shah, Ameer Hizbul Mujahideen is working with Inter Services Intelligence (ISI), Islamabad. He is a bona fide official of this department,” The Times of India highlights the document issued by the Directorate of Intelligence, Islamabad.

The document which shares details of the vehicle used by Syed Salahuddin, asks for security clearance to it and “should not be unnecessarily stopped.”

The Indian security agencies have described this as clear evidence of ISI ties with banned terror outfits which are responsible for several attacks in India. The report says that this revelation will strengthen the case for moving Pakistan to the Financial Action Task Force (FATF) blacklist. It should be noted that Pakistan is already on the FATF’s grey list. In February, it was given a four-month window to deliver on the 27-point Action Plan to curb terror financing and money laundering.

Further, this document points out that Pakistan’s recent anti-terror measures were a mere deception aimed at averting financial sanctions in the FATF. It included approval of some FATF-related legislations and issuance of Statutory Regulatory Order that ostensibly puts restrictions on 88 individuals and entities affiliated with extremist groups under the UNSC sanctions, the report said.

Pakistan is also under pressure as the United States is probing the role of Pakistani nationals in Islamic State (IS)-linked activities in Syria. Late last month, the Kurd Democratic Forces (KDF) handed over a list of 29 Pakistanis who were fighting for ISIS in Syria. They are now held captive by the KDF.

Pakistan is known to be a safe haven to about 130 UNSC-sanctioned terrorists.