India Dismisses Pakistan's Increased Bounty for Masood Azhar

The Government of India dismissed Pakistan's decision to increase the bounty for the arrest of Jaish-e-Mohammed chief Masood Azhar as a "gimmick" and a "phoney announcement." Pakistan's Federal Investigation Agency raised the reward from 50 lakh to 70 lakh Pakistani rupees in its 2026 Red Book of most-wanted terrorists, describing the UN-designated terrorist as armed and dangerous.

Indian officials assert the move is a strategic attempt to hoodwink the Financial Action Task Force (FATF) ahead of its plenary meeting in Paris scheduled for October 26-30. While Pakistan claims Azhar has taken refuge in Afghanistan, the Afghan Taliban has denied harboring him. Indian intelligence sources reject Islamabad's claims, alleging that Azhar is being moved between safe houses in Nawabshah and Rawalpindi, including treatment for renal failure at the Combined Military Hospital in Rawalpindi.

India maintains that designated terrorist groups remain active despite Pakistan's 2022 removal from the FATF grey list. New Delhi has demanded that Islamabad take concrete action against terrorism rather than making superficial gestures. Indian officials indicated they may request a further examination of Pakistan's counter-terror financing efforts during the upcoming FATF session.