India on Wednesday, 28 October issued a firm call for greater global accountability on terror financing and cross-border terrorism, as the Financial Action Task Force (FATF) Plenary got underway in Paris, France. The statement, delivered at a bi-weekly media briefing in New Delhi, underscores India's long-standing position that the international community must do more to combat terrorism in all its forms and manifestations.

What India Said at the Briefing

Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal addressed reporters at the New Delhi briefing, noting that fuller details of India's participation in the FATF meeting would be shared subsequently. On the core question of terror financing and cross-border terrorism, Jaiswal was unequivocal: 'These are things that need to be held accountable. We need to do more so that terrorism in all its forms and manifestations can be fought harder and defeated by the global community.'

Jaiswal confirmed the FATF Plenary was 'presently underway' and that India would update the media on its participation in due course.

About the FATF Plenary in Paris

The first FATF Plenary under UK Presidency of Giles Thomson is being held from 28 to 30 October in Paris. Delegates from more than 200 jurisdictions and observer organisations across the FATF Global Network have gathered to exchange views on evolving threats to global financial integrity and security, according to an official FATF statement.

Notably, for the first time, Barbados, Namibia, and Thailand are participating under the FATF-Style Regional Body (FSRB) Guest Initiative — an effort designed to broaden regional perspectives and bolster the global fight against illicit finance. Delegates are also advancing work under the FATF's roadmap on combatting fraud.

Mutual Evaluations of Mexico and the US on the Agenda

The Plenary is expected to discuss mutual evaluation reports of Mexico and the United States under the new round of mutual evaluations. These assessments examine the effectiveness of each country's measures to combat money laundering, terrorist financing, and proliferation financing, as well as their compliance with the FATF Recommendations. Delegates will additionally review progress made by jurisdictions currently under increased monitoring.

Why India's Position Matters

India has consistently pushed for stronger international norms against cross-border terrorism — a subject directly tied to its longstanding concerns over state-sponsored terrorism emanating from its neighbourhood. By raising these issues at FATF, New Delhi is leveraging a multilateral financial-oversight mechanism as a pressure point beyond traditional diplomatic channels.

This comes amid a broader global conversation around whether existing FATF frameworks are stringent enough to deter state actors that reportedly facilitate terrorist financing through informal channels. Critics argue that mutual evaluations, while rigorous, often lag behind rapidly evolving financing methods.

What Comes Next

The FATF Plenary continues through 30 October, after which outcomes and country assessments are expected to be published. India is likely to release a formal readout of its participation and any positions it advanced during the closed sessions. Observers will watch closely for any language in the final communiqué referencing cross-border terrorism accountability — a metric India has sought to embed in FATF's formal mandate.