The Pakistani government has made a significant announcement, sharply increasing the bounty on Jaish-e-Mohammed chief and most-wanted terrorist Masood Azhar. With this move, the total reward for information leading to his capture has reached Rs 70 lakh. The decision carries added significance given that a Financial Action Task Force (FATF) meeting is scheduled for October. Pakistan’s FIA had earlier announced a reward of Rs 50 lakh in 2021 for information useful in arresting Masood Azhar. Since then, Pakistan has maintained that Azhar is no longer in the country and is instead hiding in Afghanistan. Indian intelligence agencies, however, assess that Masood Azhar remains in Pakistan, believed to be located in Nawabshah in Sindh province. This assessment is reportedly based on technical analysis carried out over the past six months.
Indian sources view the inclusion of Masood Azhar’s name in the FIA’s 2026 Red Book, along with the increased bounty on him, as an attempt by Pakistan to project that it is taking action against terrorist organisations. These sources note that the move appears aimed at avoiding renewed international scrutiny ahead of the FATF meeting. Masood Azhar remains wanted in India in connection with multiple terror attacks, most notably the February 2019 Pulwama attack, in which 40 CRPF personnel lost their lives. His name also figures among those India has sought in connection with that attack.
Pakistan’s latest Red Book has also included the names of 19 individuals linked to the November 2008 Mumbai terror attacks. They are accused of helping arrange funds for the attack and procuring the boats used in it. Photographs and details of the roles played by 17 of them are included in the Red Book. However, reports indicate that photographs, details of links to Lashkar-e-Taiba, and other information relating to two other individuals have been removed from the latest list, even though their names remain on it. One of them is Mohammad Khan of Turbat, who was identified as a Lashkar-e-Taiba member in the 2021 Red Book. He was then said to have arranged the boat named Al-Hussaini, allegedly used to transport the terrorists involved in the Mumbai attacks.
Masood Azhar’s Jaish-e-Mohammed organisation also suffered a severe blow during India’s Operation Sindoor. Indian armed forces stated that they destroyed the Markaz Subhanallah base located in Bahawalpur, Pakistan — a facility situated roughly 100 kilometres inside Pakistani territory.