Pakistan Raises Masood Azhar Bounty to PKR 7m
Pakistan has increased the reward for information leading to the arrest of Jaish-e-Mohammed chief Masood Azhar to PKR 7 million, or 70 lakh Pakistani rupees, while continuing to list him among its most-wanted fugitives. The move comes weeks before a Financial Action Task Force meeting scheduled in Paris in late October.
Pakistan Raises Masood Azhar Bounty
Pakistan’s Federal Investigation Agency has included Azhar in its 2026 Red Book of Most Wanted High-Profile Terrorists. The reward for information leading to his arrest has reportedly been increased from PKR 5 million to PKR 7 million.
Azhar remains one of the most prominent militant figures wanted by India. He founded Jaish-e-Mohammed after being released from Indian custody in 1999 during the IC-814 hijacking hostage crisis.
Masood Azhar Remains UN-Designated Terrorist
The United Nations designated Azhar as a global terrorist in May 2019 over his association with Jaish-e-Mohammed and activities linked to terrorism.
Jaish-e-Mohammed has been implicated in several major terrorist attacks targeting India, including the 2001 Parliament attack. The group has also been linked to the 2016 Pathankot airbase attack and the 2019 Pulwama suicide bombing that killed 40 CRPF personnel.
India has repeatedly accused Pakistan of failing to take effective action against terrorist organisations and their leadership operating from its territory.
FATF Meeting Puts Pakistan Under Focus
The timing of the bounty increase has drawn attention because the FATF is scheduled to hold its plenary and working group meetings in Paris from October 26 to 30.
Pakistan was removed from the FATF’s increased-monitoring “grey list” in 2022 after completing an action plan addressing deficiencies in its anti-money laundering and counter-terror financing framework.
The latest action against Azhar will therefore face scrutiny over whether it results in concrete enforcement measures.
