5 hrs ago
India Dismisses Pakistan’s Masood Azhar Reward Increase as Gimmick
Pakistan has increased the money offered for information leading to the arrest of Masood Azhar.
Azhar leads Jaish-e-Mohammed, a group blamed for several attacks in India.
India says the reward announcement is only a publicity stunt.
India wants Pakistan to take real action instead of making statements.
Pakistan says Azhar is no longer in Pakistan and crossed into Afghanistan.
India rejects that explanation, and an Afghan Taliban official also said Azhar is not in Afghanistan.
Azhar was released from an Indian jail in 1999 during a hostage exchange and later founded Jaish-e-Mohammed.
The announcement came before an international review of Pakistan’s efforts against terrorism financing.
India called Pakistan’s decision to raise the reward for Masood Azhar a “gimmick” and “phoney announcement.”
Pakistan’s Federal Investigation Agency increased the reward by PKR 20 lakh to PKR 70 lakh and listed Azhar in its 2026 Red Book.
India says Pakistan should take concrete action against terrorism instead of issuing announcements.
Pakistan maintains that Azhar left the country for Afghanistan, while India rejects that account; a Taliban official also said Azhar is not in Afghanistan.
The announcement came ahead of a Financial Action Task Force review of Pakistan’s counterterrorism efforts.
- Who
- The Indian government, Pakistan’s Federal Investigation Agency, and Masood Azhar, the chief of Jaish-e-Mohammed.
- What
- Pakistan raised the reward for information about Azhar to PKR 70 lakh, while India dismissed the move as hollow.
- Where
- The decision concerns Pakistan, while Azhar’s whereabouts are disputed between Pakistan, India, and Afghanistan.
- When
- India responded on Tuesday, September 15; the announcement came ahead of the Financial Action Task Force’s October plenary.
- Why
- Pakistan is facing pressure to demonstrate action against United Nations-designated terrorists and terrorism financing.
India’s Position
Pakistan’s Explanation
Meaning of the reward increase
India’s Position
India called the announcement a gimmick and said it had no meaningful consequence.
Pakistan’s Explanation
Pakistan’s Federal Investigation Agency listed Azhar as a fugitive and increased the reward for information about him.
Azhar’s whereabouts
India’s Position
India rejects Pakistan’s claim that Azhar left Pakistan for Afghanistan.
Pakistan’s Explanation
Pakistan has maintained since 2021 that Azhar is not in Pakistan and crossed into Afghanistan.
International pressure
India’s Position
India says Pakistan must take concrete action against terrorism and UN-designated terrorists.
Pakistan’s Explanation
Pakistan’s listing and reward announcement came as it faced scrutiny ahead of a Financial Action Task Force review.
Key facts
- New reward
- PKR 70 lakh, increased from PKR 50 lakh.
- First reward listing
- Pakistan’s Federal Investigation Agency first announced a reward for Azhar in 2021.
- United Nations designation
- Azhar was designated a global terrorist by the United Nations Security Council in May 2019.
- United States reward
- The United States has offered $10 million for information leading to Azhar’s capture.
- Fugitive listing
- Azhar was listed in Pakistan’s Federal Investigation Agency 2026 Red Book of most-wanted high-profile terrorists.
- Financial Action Task Force
- The announcement came before the organization’s October plenary reviewing Pakistan’s counterterrorism efforts.
- India’s accusation
- India says Pakistan should take concrete action rather than make what it called phoney announcements.
Quotes
Randhir Jaiswal
Spokesperson for India’s Ministry of External Affairs
“For a state sponsor of terrorism to make such phoney announcements, we all know how hollow it is. Pakistan must take concrete action and not make phoney announcements. It is of no consequence.”
NDTV
theprint.in
“For a state sponsor of terror to make an announcement, a phoney announcement -- we all know how hollow it is”
NDTV
Sources
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