India is mounting a sharp diplomatic offensive at the Financial Action Task Force (FATF) plenary meeting in Paris, with a focused campaign to corner Pakistan on its alleged sheltering of Jaish-e-Mohammed chief Masood Azhar. The three-day plenary, running from 28 to 30 October 2026, is being held under the presidency of Giles Thomson of the United Kingdom, who will review Pakistan's anti-terror compliance record.

India's Core Case at the Plenary

According to officials, New Delhi's primary argument centres on Azhar's continued presence on Pakistani soil and the country's alleged failure to act against him or his organisation. Indian officials are expected to build a detailed dossier at the plenary covering Azhar's whereabouts, terror financing networks, and the operational capabilities of Jaish-e-Mohammed — the group held responsible for the Parliament, Pathankot, and Pulwama attacks.

Over the preceding days, India reportedly conducted extensive backchannel consultations, instructing its diplomats across multiple countries to secure support ahead of the session. Officials indicate that New Delhi has managed to bring several FATF member nations on board.

The Taliban Statement That Strengthened India's Hand

A critical development that has bolstered India's case is a statement by Taliban spokesperson Zia Ahmed, who in September categorically denied that Azhar was in Afghanistan. Ahmed clarified that Pakistan had sent no formal communication regarding Azhar's presence in Afghanistan, adding that Afghanistan would not allow its territory to be used against any country.

This is significant because Pakistan had for years deflected international pressure by claiming Azhar was based in Afghanistan. With that narrative now publicly disputed by the Taliban itself — amid an ongoing Pakistan-Taliban fallout and intermittent military clashes between the two sides — officials say Islamabad's cover story has collapsed.

Azhar's Location and Health: What Intelligence Says

Intelligence Bureau officials, speaking on background, say Azhar was in Bahawalpur at the time of Operation Sindoor, when Indian armed forces razed the Jaish-e-Mohammed headquarters. He was not at the premises at the time and was subsequently moved to Military Hospital Rawalpindi — officially designated the Pak Emirates Military Hospital (PEMH) — where he has reportedly been treated previously for renal failure.

Officials say Azhar is not in the best of health but insist reports of his death or incapacitation are false. They describe Pakistan's recent announcement of an enhanced bounty on Azhar as a cynical move, alleging the declaration was made while Azhar remained under state protection inside Pakistan.

Jaish-e-Mohammed Still Active Despite Operation Sindoor

Indian intelligence inputs, according to officials, indicate that Jaish-e-Mohammed remains operationally active despite the setback it suffered during Operation Sindoor. Jaish-e-Mohammed militants are reportedly embedded in launchpads in Pakistan-occupied Kashmir (PoK) alongside cadres of Lashkar-e-Taiba and Hizbul Mujahideen.

Grey List History and What India Is Seeking Now

India's current push draws on the precedent set during the 2018–2019 FATF enforcement cycle, when sustained pressure from India, the United States, and allied nations resulted in Pakistan being placed on the Grey List — primarily over insufficient action against Lashkar-e-Taiba and its chief Hafiz Saeed. India had also raised the Jaish-e-Mohammed issue during that period in the context of the Pulwama attack.

This time, officials say, India is concentrating its fire specifically on Jaish-e-Mohammed and Azhar — arguing that while there has been at least some perceived action against Lashkar-e-Taiba and Saeed, Pakistan has done little or nothing to curb Azhar's activities. The goal, officials say, is to compel the FATF to act against Pakistan's continued complicity.

The outcome of the Paris plenary could prove pivotal for India's broader counter-terror diplomacy — and for Pakistan's standing in the global financial system.