Get Pakistan on FATF grey list, launch cyber attacks: Owaisi

AIMIM (All India Majlis-e-Ittehadul Muslimeen) chief and Hyderabad MP Asaduddin Owaisi on Monday said Pakistan must be brought under the 'grey list' of the Financial Action Task Force (FATF), an on terror financing and money laundering. Presence in the grey list results in a country facing severe financial constraints.

The AIMIM chief also raised the after the Indus Waters Treaty was kept in abeyance by the Union government following the 22 April in a bid to punish Pakistan for backing terrorism.

Speaking to reporters in Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar (Aurangabad), Owaisi said cyber attacks must be launched against Pakistan. "Pakistan should be brought under the grey list of FATF to show they are financing terrorism through illegal money. We will also demand from the government that cyber attacks should be undertaken against Pakistan as Article 51 of the UN law gives us the right to act in self defence," Owaisi asserted.

On the Indus treay issue, he asked, "Where will the water go after the Indus Waters Treaty was kept in abeyance? It has to be stored somewhere," though he added that since the decision has been taken by the Centre, his party would fully stand by it.

Under the World Bank-brokered treaty, India was granted exclusive rights to the waters of the eastern rivers of the Indus Basin — the Sutlej, Beas, and Ravi — amounting to an average annual flow of about 33 million acre-feet (MAF). The waters of the western rivers — the Indus, Jhelum and Chenab — with an average annual flow of around 135 MAF, were largely allocated to Pakistan.

जब आपकी माँ को गोली मारी तो वह आतंकवाद (Terrorism) है, और हमारी माँ-बेटियों को मारा जाए तो वह आतंकवाद नहीं है क्या?pic.twitter.com/0aUBcSHktf

— Asaduddin Owaisi (@asadowaisi) April 28, 2025

With the treaty now in abeyance, the government is looking at ways to utilise the water of the Indus, Jhelum and Chenab.

Asked about Pakistan leader statement against India following its withdrawal from the Indus Waters Treaty, Owaisi said he should ask who killed his mother (Benazir Bhutto), adding that she was killed by "homegrown terrorists", Owaisi added.

Owaisi also said the Narendra Modi government must have a relook at its deterrent policy since incidents like the Pahalgam attack were taking place even after the airstrikes (post the Pulwama attacks of 2019). However, Owaisi reiterated that he would support whatever decision the Centre takes.

"Pakistan should understand that India's defence budget is bigger than their entire budget. They are 20 years behind India. The politicians there just keep blabbering. That country is facing internal issues. They can't manufacture medicines for malaria but keep talking about fighting India," the AIMIM chief said.

Asked about a statement by former Pakistan international cricketer Shahid Afridi on the Pahalgam attack, Owaisi reacted with disdain saying "he is a joker".

Speaking on the Waqf Amendment Act, Owaisi opposed its provisions and said it violated the Constitution. On the provision of non-Muslims on waqf boards, Owaisi asked if it wouldn't be painful if "we ask for non-Hindus to be included in Pandharpur temple trust".

Edited PTI copy