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Pakistan Raises Masood Azhar Bounty Ahead of FATF Review
Pakistan says it will pay 70 lakh Pakistani rupees for information that helps capture Masood Azhar.
Azhar leads Jaish-e-Mohammed, a terrorist group based in Pakistan.
Pakistan has put his name in an official list of wanted people.
The country has also said that Azhar is no longer in Pakistan and went to Afghanistan.
Afghan officials and the Taliban have rejected or disputed claims that he is operating from Afghanistan.
India wants Azhar for his alleged links to several major attacks.
The announcement was made before an important meeting of the Financial Action Task Force.
Some observers think the bounty is a real law-enforcement action, while others call it a symbolic move to impress international officials.
The articles also differ over whether Jaish-e-Mohammed was responsible for the Pahalgam attack.
Pakistan’s Federal Investigation Agency has raised the reward for information leading to Masood Azhar’s arrest from PKR 50 lakh to PKR 70 lakh.
The Jaish-e-Mohammed chief has been added to the FIA’s Red Book of most-wanted terrorists as a fugitive.
Pakistan has repeatedly claimed that Azhar left the country for Afghanistan, while critics and Indian agencies allege he may still be in Pakistan.
The move comes ahead of a Financial Action Task Force plenary focused partly on terrorist financing and money laundering.
Azhar is wanted in India over attacks including the 2001 Parliament attack, 2008 Mumbai attacks, 2016 Pathankot attack and 2019 Pulwama bombing.
- Who
- Pakistan’s Federal Investigation Agency announced the reward for information about Jaish-e-Mohammed chief Masood Azhar.
- What
- The FIA increased the bounty on Azhar to PKR 70 lakh and listed him in its Red Book of most-wanted terrorists.
- Where
- The bounty was announced in Pakistan, while the FATF meeting is scheduled to take place in Paris.
- When
- The announcement was made ahead of the FATF’s upcoming plenary; one article gives the meeting dates as October 26–30, 2026.
- Why
- Pakistan says the reward is connected to efforts to apprehend Azhar; critics say it may be intended to demonstrate action against terrorism before the FATF review.
Pakistan’s stated enforcement position
Critics’ and Indian agencies’ assessment
Meaning of the bounty
Pakistan’s stated enforcement position
Pakistan has formally listed Azhar as a fugitive, warned that he is armed and dangerous, and offered a reward for information leading to his apprehension or conviction.
Critics’ and Indian agencies’ assessment
Critics describe the announcement as an ostensible or symbolic crackdown intended to influence the international community before the FATF meeting.
Azhar’s location
Pakistan’s stated enforcement position
Pakistan has claimed since 2021 that Azhar is no longer in the country and fled to Afghanistan.
Critics’ and Indian agencies’ assessment
Indian agencies and other reports cited in the articles question that claim; Afghanistan’s Taliban and a senior Afghan Foreign Ministry official have rejected claims that Azhar is operating from Afghanistan.
Pahalgam attack attribution
Pakistan’s stated enforcement position
One article describes Jaish-e-Mohammed as involved in the Pahalgam attack.
Critics’ and Indian agencies’ assessment
Another article says the Pahalgam attack was carried out by Lashkar-e-Taiba, not Jaish-e-Mohammed.
Key facts
- Reward
- PKR 70 lakh, increased from PKR 50 lakh in 2021
- Listed by
- Pakistan’s Federal Investigation Agency
- Official listing
- FIA Red Book of most-wanted or high-profile terrorists
- Organization
- Jaish-e-Mohammed
- International status
- Masood Azhar is designated as an international terrorist by the United Nations Security Council
- FATF meeting
- Scheduled for October 26–30, 2026, in Paris, according to one article
- Indian cases
- Azhar is wanted in cases linked to the Parliament, Mumbai, Pathankot and Pulwama attacks
Quotes
Pakistan’s Federal Investigation Agency
Pakistan’s agency responsible for the Red Book and terrorist investigations
“The Federal/Provincial Govt. of Pakistan is offering a reward of up to Rs. 7000000/- for information leading directly to the apprehension or conviction of Maulana Masood Azhar Maulana S/o Khuda Baksh.”
firstpost.com
“To evade action and deceive the international community, Pakistan began claiming in 2021 that Azhar was no longer on its soil but had fled to Afghanistan.”
thestatesman.com
Unnamed sources
Sources cited in the report discussing Pakistan’s announcement
“In a bid to mislead the global community once again, Pakistan has announced a reward of PKR 70 lakh on Jaish-e-Mohammed (JeM) chief Masood Azhar.”
thestatesman.com
Sources
Pakistan misleads again? Islamabad raises Masood Azhar bounty to PKR 70 lakh ahead of FATF meet
‘Armed and extremely dangerous’: Pakistan puts Rs 70 lakh bounty on terrorist Masood Azhar ahead of FATF test
‘Ostensible crackdown’: Pakistan announces PKR 70 lakh bounty on Masood Azhar ahead of FATF plenary
Pak Announces PKR 7 Million Bounty On Terror Group Jaish Chief Masood Azhar
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