The Pakistan-occupied Kashmir (PoK) government has issued an official order prohibiting donations, monetary or in the form of sacrificial animals, to a list of 66 banned terrorist organizations, including Jaish-e-Mohammed and Lashkar-e-Taiba. The order comes just days after India’s targeted counterterrorism operation, Operation Sindoor, struck terrorist hideouts within Pakistani territory.
In retaliation for the Pahalgam terror attack, Indian armed forces had carried out missile strikes on nine terror targets in Pakistan and Pakistan-Occupied Kashmir including the Jaish-e-Mohammad stronghold of Bahawalpur and Lashkar-e-Taiba’s base Muridke, under Operation Sindoor.
The directive warns that any individual found contributing to these organizations, especially during the Eid al-Adha (Bakrid) period, could face prosecution under the Anti-Corruption and Anti-Terrorism Act, 2014, which carries a penalty of up to one year in prison.
Ban Targets Eid Fundraising Drive
Following Operation Sindoor, terror outfits such as Jaish-e-Mohammed were openly collecting donations from the public during Eid, reportedly to recoup financial and logistical losses suffered due to the Indian strikes. The latest PoK directive appears to be an effort to curtail such activities and disassociate the local administration from groups known for cross-border terrorism.
The notification specifically names 66 proscribed outfits, including Tehrik-i-Taliban Pakistan (TTP), Baloch Liberation Army (BLA), Jaish-e-Mohammed, and Lashkar-e-Taiba, declaring any kind of donation to them as illegal.
Move To Avoid FATF Grey List?
Despite the seemingly tough stance, Pakistan’s past incidents clearly suggest that this order might have been issued merely to avoid being put on the FATF grey list and to create a false image for the global community. Earlier this year on February 5, Jaish and Lashkar were allowed to conduct a public rally at the Rawalakot Stadium in PoK, with protection reportedly provided by both the Pakistani Army and the local police.
This apparent contradiction between official policy and ground realities has led to accusations of performative compliance, especially given the Financial Action Task Force’s (FATF) long-standing scrutiny of Pakistan’s counterterrorism financing record.
Although Jaish-e-Mohammed and Lashkar-e-Taiba were officially banned by Pakistan back in 2002 under international pressure, their operations remain largely unaffected. Their training facilities and leadership structures continue to function from within Pakistani borders, allegedly with direct or indirect state support.
The latest directive, while a notable development on paper, has thus been dismissed by many as an attempt to placate international watchdogs without making any meaningful change on the ground.
