South Africa has succeeded in getting out of the suspicious (grey) list of the Financial Action Task Force (FATF) after almost three years. The global money laundering and terrorist financing watchdog announced the decision at the conclusion of its three-day plenary meeting in Paris last week.

Countries included in the FATF Suspicious List are closely monitored and such countries have to address strategic deficiencies to combat money laundering, terrorist financing, etc. “Over the past 32 months, South Africa has worked with a team of FATF-appointed reviewers to assess the progress of the action plan,” South Africa’s Finance Ministry said in a statement.

Assurance from South Africa to FATF

According to the statement, ‘Thanks to this collaboration, reviewers inspected the site at the end of July 2025. During this time, reviewers came here to confirm the sustainability of the reforms and the report prepared by them was presented before FATF.

The FATF was assured of the government’s commitment to sustainable improvements in its anti-money laundering and countering the financing of terrorism (AML/CFT) regime, the statement said. However, the Finance Ministry has also cautioned against any negligence to avoid being included back in the FATF suspect list. Apart from South Africa, FATF has also removed Nigeria, Mozambique and Burkina Faso from its suspicious list.

What is the work of FATF?

FATF (Financial Action Task Force) is an international organization that works to prevent money laundering and terrorism financing globally.

FATF was established in 1989 by the G-7 countries and its purpose is to set standards and guidelines for the prevention of financial crimes in countries. FATF member countries include 39 member countries and territories, which together take action against global financial crimes.

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FATF, an organization that monitors terrorism and money laundering at the global level, has once again warned that North Korea, Iran and Myanmar are still high-risk countries. These countries have not only failed to implement anti-terrorism and anti-money laundering laws, but also remain a threat to the global financial system. FATF has said that removing these countries from the blacklist does not give them any kind of license and international financial institutions will have to be careful with them.

Being in the blacklist means that financial institutions limit their transactions and use of resources with these countries, so that the pressure on these countries to improve according to FATF standards can increase. The FATF constantly reviews its list, but all three countries continue to be included in the high-risk areas.

FATF reviewed the progress of many countries

The FATF reviewed the progress of several countries in 2025, including Algeria, Angola, Bulgaria, Burkina Faso, Cameroon, Côte d’Ivoire, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Kenya, Lao PDR, Monaco, Mozambique, Namibia, Nepal, Nigeria, South Africa, South Sudan, Syria, Venezuela and Vietnam. Of these, Burkina Faso, Mozambique, Nigeria and South Africa have been removed from the gray list of FATF.

FATF warning on Myanmar

Myanmar was blacklisted in October 2022 after it failed to improve on its action plan. FATF said that if progress is not made by October 2025, drastic measures can be taken. According to FATF, Myanmar has not completed most of the tasks even a year after the deadline of its action plan. Some progress has been made, such as the management of seized assets, but urgent action is still needed to address strategic shortcomings.

What is the reason for action against Iran?

Iran has not yet completed its FATF action plan launched in 2018. In October 2025, it passed legislation related to the UN Terrorist Financing Convention, but FATF says that key shortcomings still remain. After February 2020, Iran reported its situation in January, August and December 2024 and August 2025, but there were no significant changes.

FATF has appealed to all countries and financial institutions to take these high-risk countries and their financial transactions seriously, so that the global financial system remains safe.

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‘Being out of the gray list does not mean freedom from funding terrorism’, FATF warns Pakistan

Pakistan may once again be included in the gray list of Financial Action Task Force. The Finance Minister here is afraid of this. Finance Minister Mohammad Aurangzeb has given a big statement saying that the country can once again go into the gray list of FATF (Financial Action Task Force). He warned that about 15% of Pakistan’s population is doing financial transactions without any investigation, rules and regulations. It is believed that Pakistan can be punished again due to relations with terrorist organizations like Jaish-e-Mohammed.

Fatf’s eye on terrorist funding
Aurangzeb tried to connect the threat of FATF to the country’s weak economy, but the reality is that the matter is related to funding and money laundering to terrorist organizations. According to reports, funds are being transferred on a large scale without any regulation to provide funds to terrorists in Pakistan. This is the reason why FATF is keeping a close watch on it.

Pakistan has been in gray-list earlier also
FATF has earlier put Pakistan in a strict monitoring list (gray-list) on charges of helping terrorists. Terrorist groups like Jaish-e-Mohammed and Lashkar-e-Taiba run their funding networks using hawala, cash transactions and now digital networks. Reports say that the government of Pakistan has also created new avenues for fund transfer.

Digital finance is increasing difficulties
If Pakistan fails to control digital finance and non-registard transactions, then it can be put in the gray-list again. According to the report by The Pakistan Tribune, Aurangzeb has warned that FATF is scheduled if the regulatory system is not strengthened. He has demanded to take strict steps immediately.

Was out of gray list in 2022
Significantly, Pakistan was put in the gray list of FATF on charges of funding terrorists in 2018. In 2022, Pakistan came out of it with great difficulty in 2022 after monitoring and accepting the conditions for a long time. Now non-registard fintech platforms, crypto wallets and hidden digital transactions can again trap Pakistan in the same trap.

Pakistan’s Defense Minister Khwaja Asif has accused the top bureau of dollars of dollars and international money laundering, making a shocking disclosure. He said that this illegal money has been sent to Portugal, where top officials of Pakistan are buying property and getting citizenship or residency.

Estates purchased in Portugal, exit plan is being made
Asif wrote on the social media platform X that more than half of Pakistan’s bureaucracy has bought property in Portugal and is planning to take citizenship or residence there. All these properties have been purchased with black money. He described it as a “silent exit strategy”.

Flaws on leaders, but real advantage to bureaucracy
Khwaja Asif also said that the leaders have to face the public, so they do not add so much property. He said – “Politicians get the same one who avoids these (bureaucracy), yet every charge seems to be on the leaders.”

An officer gifts 4 billion gifts for daughter’s wedding
Asif alleged that a senior bureaucrat, close to former Chief Minister Usman Bujdar, took Rs 4 billion as ‘salute’ at his daughter’s wedding. He described it as a symbol of a grand lifestyle nurtured by corruption.

This bureaucracy is making Pakistan dirty
The Defense Minister described this entire system as ’embarrassing’ and said, ‘This bureaucracy is polluting the soil of our country.’ India’s top intelligence agencies told CNN-NEWS18 that this is a classic example of ‘Elite Asset LaNing’ made through diplomatic immunity.

Failed FATF system
Agencies said that due to the weak investigation system of FATF, this property transfer through Gulf and European countries was possible. Portugal was deliberately chosen as it is a ‘FATF blind spot’.

Trying to save real accused
According to India’s intelligence agencies, this statement may be a strategic move, diverting the attention of global monitoring institutions from military and intelligence agencies and diverts towards civil bureaucracy. This will protect senior officers of ISI and army from immediate sanctions.

Deep roots of corruption in Pakistan
Corruption in Pakistan is an old and widespread issue which is spread in every field like politics, bureaucracy, judiciary and law and order. This remains the biggest obstruction in the progress of the country. Politicians have been accused of foreign properties and scams, while bureaucrats are accused of taking bribe, obstructing government schemes and demanding money for everything.

Pakistan has shown a big act this time to prove its faith once again towards America. The US Central Command (Uscentcom) Chief General Michael Kurilla has been awarded the capital of the capital Islamabad and awarded one of his country’s highest state honors. Pakistan has done all this to avoid the restrictions of Financial Action Task Force (FATF).

This honor was given to the US General by Pakistan President Asif Ali Zardari. Let us know that General Michael Kurilla has praised Pakistan many times in the last few months. He has often described Pakistan’s contribution as important in the fight against terrorism.

Pakistan shows loyalty towards Donald Trump
It is believed that the Sharif government of Pakistan is presenting evidence of its loyalty to Donald Trump, who had recently met the field marshal Asim Munir of Pakistan. General Michael Kurilla has been honored for his contribution in strengthening Pakistan US military relations. General Kurilla interacted with Zardari and Pakistani Army Chief General Asim Munir for a long time.

After the Pahalgam terror attack, FATF has started fasting Pakistan and Pakistan is quite scared due to the TRF terrorist organization and they feel that they can be included in the gray-list. The FATF meeting is scheduled to be held in September-October and before that Pakistan is making every effort to please America.

Pakistan was kept in the gray list of FATF in 2018
Pakistan was placed in the gray-list of FATF in 2018 and was taken out in October 2022. Diplomatic sources say that by providing supreme military honors, Pakistan is showing its loyalty and synergy towards the US defense establishment. The US is a founding member of FATF and has an important role in its policy -making process, so this step of Pakistan is being seen as a strategy to get financial help from Washington.

According to a report, Pakistan is playing a dual role because on one hand they are dependent on China, on the other hand, Islamabad is now indicating that it is no longer dependent on China. After the US exiting Afghanistan in 2021, the centcom remains important for the regional military strategy.

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There will be a 16 -hour long debate on ‘Operation Sindoor’ in Lok Sabha today, Rajnath Singh made big preparations

Operation Sindoor: After Operation Sindoor, the delegation of Gaya India is returning to different countries of the world to remove the fake nairatva of Pakistan. Delegation led by JDU MP Sanjay Kumar Jha has arrived. The special thing is that the countries where these delegations went, are also member countries of OC and the member countries of FATF were also included. Members of the delegation led by Sanjay Kumar Jha have given a statement after the return.

BJP MP Aparajita Sarangi has said that we went on a visit to five countries including Japan, Indonesia, Malaysia. There we have spoken about our country. Everyone listened to our point and supported us on ending terrorism. Everyone has appreciated for multi party delegation. We told the member countries of OC and FATF that we are not on those platforms, you should keep our point there.

Member countries of OC also listened to us- undefeated sarangi
Aparajit Sarangi said that the member countries of OC also listened to us and have supported us on the elimination of terrorism. Those countries have their own internal issues, despite that everyone has heard us. You cannot expect more than this. On the politics happening in India, he said that there is a lack of patriotism. The Congress should also talk to those people of their party who were part of them. On Rahul Gandhi, he said that there is a lack of devotion to him. At the same time, Vilabal said about Bhutto that Pakistan will try to speak, try to make nervous, but we are happy that the countries of the world are listening to our point and supporting.

BJP MP Brijlal’s statement
BJP MP Brijlal said that we put our point in front of the countries and we are happy that all the countries were with us to end terrorism. Malaysia is a member of FATF. We told him that now only condemnation will not work, now you have to take action. Put Pakistan in the black list, not gray.

Talk of pressurizing Malaysia to put pressure on Pakistan
The BJP MP said that Malaysia and Pakistan also have relations. We said put pressure on your friend to end terrorism. We explained that today we are upset with terrorism, tomorrow you can also be. On the politics happening in the country, he said that this is not right. Congress leaders are getting the leaders who went to delegation. On Rahul Gandhi, he said that whoever cannot respect his grandmother, take care of him. He does not even take his shoes while paying tribute to him. Rahul Gandhi always talks anti -national things.

BJP MP’s statement on Bilawal Bhutto
On Bilawal Bhutto, the BJP MP said that he should know that at the time of independence, Brigadier Usman gave martyrdom, later Abdul Hameed died. Everyone is one in India. Think about your country, there are going to be many pieces. On bringing impeachment on Justice Verma, I said that I support it. They have become a blot in the name of Judicry. He should resign. If you do not give now, then impeachment will be removed and removed.