The Eurasian Group (EAG), during its 41st plenary session of the nine-member group on Friday, made a significant discovery. According to a senior official's statement, over 600 people linked to global networks engaged in funding terrorism this year were identified. This finding holds great importance in the fight against terrorism.
Highlighting the Key Challenge
Chairman Yuri Chikhanchin emphasized that detecting methods of funding international terrorists and tracking their financial supporters is the most significant current challenge. This issue was extensively discussed at the meeting. "This is the biggest challenge that we are facing – identifying channels of financing, financiers and sustainment of international terrorists because we all are international these days," he said.The identification work this year has been remarkable. Over 600 people have been identified in the region through the analysis of financial intelligence units (FIU) of EAG member countries. These identifications are based on financial behavior, which is a great result and will provide more opportunities to enhance this work in the future.Addressing the Press Conference
Chikhanchin addressed a press conference following the five-day meeting that began on November 25. The EAG consists of nine member countries: Belarus, China, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, India, Russia, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan, and Uzbekistan. He stated that this identification is a great success and will open doors to boost the campaign against terrorism financing. In the present global scenario, the risks related to terrorism are not limited to any one country."The risk of terrorism across the region is the most prevalent and most troubling. Afghanistan is one country where the risk of terrorism is still relevant. We are thinking about joint measures to tackle this risk emanating from Afghanistan," Chikhanchin said.During one of the EAG meetings, discussions focused on strengthening the organization's ties with Afghanistan and mitigating the risk of terrorism in the country. "We have discussed in one of our meetings how to fortify and enhance our relations with Afghanistan and how to minimise the risk and the situation there that it still triggers," he added.Responding to Global Conflicts
Responding to a question regarding the impact of the ongoing wars in Ukraine and West Asia, Chikhanchin said, "Eurasian Group is a purely technical organisation. We never discuss issues of political nature. We stand against terrorism financing and money laundering."Regulating Cryptocurrencies
Talking about cryptocurrencies, he said that regulating the existing framework of cryptocurrencies is a serious and complex issue, and the world needs to unite to resolve the issue.Vivek Aggarwal, head of the Indian delegation in the EAG meeting, said that this five-day meeting was beneficial for the host country in many ways. He is the additional secretary of the revenue department in the Finance Ministry and the Director of the country's Financial Intelligence Unit (FIU).The 600 individuals identified by EAG also include those involved in cross-border financial transactions. The units through which these transactions were done in these cases have also been identified. Aggarwal said, "The EAG meeting discussed in detail the terrorist financing from across the border in the Indian context. It discussed the role of organizations like Al Qaeda, Jaish-e-Mohammed, and Lashkar-e-Taiba and their affiliates as well as the international transaction of money by them."The EAG meeting also elaborated on issues in which money was transacted through cryptocurrencies, which could be used to strengthen terrorism.READ MORE