# Pakistan raises Masood Azhar bounty ahead of FATF meet

2026-09-14T21:16:45+00:00 | World & Diplomacy | Indian Opinion Desk

Corroboration: 3 independent outlets

Pakistan's Federal Investigation Agency has raised the bounty on Jaish-e-Mohammed founder Masood Azhar to PKR 70 lakh, listing him in its 2026 Red Book of most-wanted terrorists. The reward was previously PKR 50 lakh in 2021. Azhar is wanted in India for the 2001 Parliament attack, the 2008 Mumbai attacks, the 2016 Pathankot attack and the 2019 Pulwama bombing. The UN Security Council designated him a global terrorist in 2019. The move comes weeks ahead of the Financial Action Task Force's plenary in Paris from October 26 to 30, where Pakistan's counter-terrorism financing efforts will be reviewed. Pakistan claims Azhar fled to Afghanistan after 2019. Times Now reported that Indian security sources called the listing a smokescreen timed to the FATF meeting. Times of India noted that the Red Book still omits Azhar's national ID card or passport number. The FATF kept Pakistan on its grey list from 2018 to 2022.

## Indian Opinion Analysis

India has repeatedly demanded Azhar's extradition over attacks including the 2001 Parliament strike and the 2019 Pulwama bombing. Pakistan's own files list his address in Bahawalpur and register three anti-terror cases against him in Punjab, undercutting its official claim that he fled to Afghanistan. The FATF reviews Pakistan's terror-financing record at its October plenary. New Delhi will watch whether this listing translates into any action beyond a printed poster.

## Coverage

- rediff.com (neutral report) <https://www.rediff.com/news/report/masood-azhar-remains-on-pakistans-most-wanted-list-with-rs-7-mn-bounty/20260914.htm>
  led with Pakistan's own listing details without calling the move a smokescreen
- timesnownews.com (government critical) <https://www.timesnownews.com/world/asia/wanted-and-welcome-how-pakistan-hosts-masood-azhar-between-fatf-meetings-article-156157226>
  framed the listing as a timed theatre act, calling it a smokescreen and questioning Pakistan's claims
- timesofindia.indiatimes.com (government critical) <https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/world/pakistan/pak-ups-reward-for-masood-azhar-by-pkr-20l-ahead-of-fatf-meet/articleshow/134249988.cms>
  called the move 'farcical duplicity' and highlighted Indian agencies' assessments

Tags: FATF, Jaish-e-Mohammed, Masood Azhar, Pakistan, Red Book
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