Workshops on Countering the Financing of Terrorism (CFT) for LEAs and Private Banks

10 May 2019, Islamabad - The UNODC recognizes the need to curb terrorist financing by understanding the techniques and tools adopted to attain resources and cause disruption through malicious intention. On 29 and 30 April 2019, a workshop on the terrorist financing framework was held in Islamabad with the support of the European Union and in partnership with NACTA, to increase the participants' knowledge of how terrorists finance their activities for both organizational support and operational activity. The workshop was attended by participants from Provincial Counter Terrorism Departments (CTDs), Intelligence Agencies, and Regulators.  Ms. Jessica Marin, UNODC Consultant, presented the methodology concerning the terrorist financing framework used to explore terrorist financing: wherein the framework outlined methods which the terrorists use to raise, use, move, store, manage, and obscure their funds.

The aim of this workshop was to conclude on a note where the participants could clarify and add precision to their understanding of terrorist financing. The content shared during this workshop allowed the participants to identify methods of terrorist financing, determine how the terrorist organization or operational cell used a particular method, and identify ways to advance investigations into or counter terrorist financing within their organizations' mandates.

During the first half of the first day, the terrorist financing framework was presented to the participants in an interactive format that allowed them to demonstrate their current knowledge of terrorist financing. The participants then discussed the need for a framework (to clarify, explain, and proactively identify terrorist financing). The session concluded with the introduction of the first case study that examined the Islamic State (IS) financing using the terrorist financing framework.

The second half of the first day and the following day was spent using two case studies and the terrorist financing framework to understand and explain terrorist organization financing (using Islamic State as an example), and where the framework was applied to a (fictional) operational case study. This case study used an example of a terrorist cell planning an attack in Pakistan and outlined the various aspects of financing that could be explained using the financing framework.

In continuation of the efforts to further emphasize terrorist financing (TF), a similar workshop was held on 2 - 3 May 2019 in Karachi, to explore the financing framework; and used one case study to explore the relevant aspects of the framework: terrorist organization financing using the example of Islamic State. The workshop in Karachi was also attended by participants from private banks.

In addition to the above-mentioned presentations, Mr. Kamran Taj, Director Counter Terrorism (CT) Ministry of Foreign Affairs, presented the guidelines for implementation of the United Nations Security Council (UNSC) Resolutions concerning targeted financial sanctions, travel ban, and arms embargo. The last session was presented by Mr. Waqas Hamid, Additional Director Financial Monitoring Unit (FMU), on GoAML and information sharing mechanisms with  the Law Enfor cement Agencies (LEAs) and Banks.

Throughout both workshops, the students participated in short, group-based quizzes and discussions to explore the framework, demonstrate knowledge, share experiences in investigating terrorist financing (from the perspectives of law enforcement agencies, the private sector, and the regulators), and shared their knowledge with other participants through presentations and summary exercises.

At the conclusion of both workshops, the participants were awarded certificates.