In a massive move that vastly intensifies the world's crackdown on Pakistan for its support to terrorism, intergovernmental agency FATF is to place India's neighbour on its grey list for terror financing.

The US had moved to place Pakistan on the list ahead of the 37-nation group's meet in Paris which got underway on February 18.

In a big blow to Pakistan, even China didn't support its all-weather-friend as only Turkey voted against the US' motion.

Earlier, Pakistan's foreign minister Khawaja Asif had said triumphantly declared that the FATF would not place Pakistan on the list and that the move had been blocked. However, his assertion turned out to not be the case. A formal announcement by the FATF is expected later on Friday, sources said to Republic.

Our efforts paid,FATF Paris 20Feb meeting conclusion on US led motion to put Pakistan on watch list

-No consensus for nominating Pakistan

-proposing 3months pause &asking APG for another report to b considered in June الحمداللہ

Grateful to friends who helped — Khawaja M. Asif (@KhawajaMAsif) February 20, 2018

Shortly before the meeting in Paris, Pakistan, which was to provide a report on its crackdown on terrorism, had attempted to take desperate last-minute action against 26/11 mastermind Hafiz Saeed's JuD and FIF organisations.

Here's what Indian government sources said to Republic TV about the development:

"We welcome this move by FATF to put Pakistan in the terror financing global list. This has happened on expected lines and comes as a huge embarrassment to Pakistan. FATF move vindicates India’s stand that Pakistan has been aiding, abetting and financing terrorism against India. The global community needs to realise that Pakistan has been sponsoring terror against its neighbours and using it as a state policy. Global diplomatic steps like these to crush terror important in the war against terror."

The US' move to put Pakistan on the FATF watchlist was foreshadowed by a number of actions by the Trump administration. On the first day of 2018, the US president had launched a scathing and stunning Twitter attack on Pakistan, calling it out for its "lies and deceit" with regards to clamping down on terror and calling an end to military aid to the country. Accordingly, the US administration suspended aid worth about $2 billion to Pakistan. Then, on January 24, the US launched a massive drone strike on Pakistani soil near the border with Afghanistan targeting leaders of the Haqqani network. Another drone strike followed on February 8.