Pakistan Offers ₹70 Lakh Bounty On Masood Azhar Ahead Of FATF Meet

Pakistan has added Jaish-e-Mohammed chief Masood Azhar to its Federal Investigation Agency's Red Book of most-wanted terrorists and announced a reward of ₹70 lakh for information leading to his capture. This move comes ahead of the Financial Action Task Force (FATF) plenary scheduled to be held in October.

The FATF plenary is a crucial meeting where Pakistan's efforts to tackle terrorism and terror financing will be reviewed. Pakistan's move is being viewed as a symbolic step aimed at demonstrating its commitment to taking action against terrorism. However, the country's record on tackling terror groups operating from its soil has been a subject of long-standing concerns.

Masood Azhar is a UN-designated terrorist and the founder of Jaish-e-Mohammed, a terror group responsible for several attacks in India, including the 2019 Pulwama attack. In July 2025, Azhar was reportedly spotted in Pakistan-occupied Kashmir's Gilgit-Baltistan region, despite Pakistan's earlier claims that he had gone missing from the country and was believed to be hiding in neighbouring Afghanistan.

The Taliban regime has also rejected Pakistan's repeated claims that Azhar is operating from Afghanistan. In fact, according to an Indian intelligence agency report, technical analysis suggests that Azhar may actually be hiding in Nawabshah city in Pakistan's Sindh province.

The latest bounty is not the first time Pakistan has offered a reward for information leading to Azhar's capture. In 2021, the FIA had announced a ₹50 lakh reward for information that could help apprehend the Jaish-e-Mohammed chief. The latest FIA Red Book also includes 19 other terrorists accused of assisting the perpetrators of the 26/11 Mumbai terror attacks.

The inclusion of these terrorists in the Red Book is a significant development, as it acknowledges their role in the Mumbai terror attacks. The list includes individuals accused of providing financial assistance to the attackers and helping operate the boats used by the terrorists to reach Mumbai.

The FATF plenary will review Pakistan's progress in implementing its action plan to tackle terrorism and terror financing. Pakistan's efforts to demonstrate its commitment to taking action against terrorism will be closely watched, and the outcome of the plenary will have significant implications for the country's economy and international relations.

In conclusion, Pakistan's move to add Masood Azhar to its most-wanted list and announce a bounty on his head is a significant development ahead of the FATF plenary. However, the country's record on tackling terror groups and its commitment to taking action against terrorism will be closely watched, and the outcome of the plenary will have significant implications for Pakistan's economy and international relations.

The move is also significant for India, as it has long been demanding that Pakistan take action against terror groups operating from its soil. The inclusion of terrorists accused of assisting the perpetrators of the 26/11 Mumbai terror attacks in the FIA Red Book is a step in the right direction, but more needs to be done to dismantle these networks and bring the perpetrators to justice.

Overall, the development highlights the complex and sensitive nature of Pakistan's relationship with terror groups and its efforts to tackle terrorism and terror financing. The outcome of the FATF plenary will be closely watched, and it remains to be seen whether Pakistan's efforts will be enough to demonstrate its commitment to taking action against terrorism.

The international community will be watching Pakistan's progress closely, and the country's efforts to tackle terrorism and terror financing will have significant implications for its economy and international relations. The development is a significant one, and it will be interesting to see how it unfolds in the coming days and weeks.

In the end, the move to add Masood Azhar to the FIA Red Book and announce a bounty on his head is a step in the right direction, but more needs to be done to tackle terrorism and terror financing in Pakistan. The country's commitment to taking action against terrorism will be closely watched, and the outcome of the FATF plenary will have significant implications for its economy and international relations.