Pakistan raises Masood Azhar bounty to ₹70 lakh ahead of FATF review
Synopsis
Pakistan raised Masood Azhar's bounty to ₹70 lakh and added 26/11 suspects to its FIA 'Red Book' — but Indian intelligence and international analysts say the timing, just weeks before a FATF plenary, exposes it as a tactical manoeuvre rather than genuine counter-terror action. Azhar is believed to be hiding in Nawabshah, Sindh, despite years of Pakistani denial.
Key Takeaways
Pakistan raised the bounty on JeM chief Masood Azhar from ₹50 lakh to ₹70 lakh on 14 September and added him to the FIA's 'Red Book' of most-wanted terrorists.
The move is widely seen as a pre-emptive step ahead of the FATF plenary meeting next month to avoid punitive action over terror financing.
Indian intelligence maintains Azhar is sheltering in Nawabshah, Sindh , contradicting Pakistan's longstanding denial of his presence.
The FIA's Red Book also lists 19 individuals linked to the 26/11 Mumbai attacks , including 11 Lashkar-e-Taiba operatives — all of whom Indian agencies say remain on Pakistani soil.
Pakistan's total most-wanted list has grown 35% since 2021, rising from 1,330 to 1,804 names, with critics questioning the lack of prosecutions.
The Pakistan government on Monday, 14 September raised the bounty on Jaish-e-Mohammed (JeM) chief Masood Azhar to ₹70 lakh and added his name to the Federal Investigation Agency's (FIA) 'Red Book' of most-wanted terrorists. The move comes weeks before a crucial Financial Action Task Force (FATF) plenary meeting, and is being viewed by international experts and Indian intelligence officials as a tactical manoeuvre to avoid punitive action — not a genuine counter-terror step.
A Familiar Pattern Before FATF
Azhar had previously carried a bounty of ₹50 lakh, announced in 2021 — the same year Pakistan publicly claimed he was not present on its soil. The latest ₹20 lakh hike brings the total to ₹70 lakh. According to top sources, the timing is deliberate: Pakistan faces ongoing scrutiny over terror financing and harbouring militant networks, and the FATF plenary is expected next month.
Many international analysts describe the move as a 'FATF window-dressing' exercise — a pattern Islamabad has followed in the past to soften the blow of potential grey- or blacklisting. Critics argue that a bounty increase on a figure Pakistan officially claims is not in the country stretches credibility.
Where Indian Intelligence Believes Azhar Is Hiding
Indian intelligence agencies maintain that Masood Azhar — widely identified as the mastermind behind multiple terror attacks in India, including the 2019 Pulwama suicide bombing — continues to live inside Pakistan. He is believed to be sheltering in Nawabshah, a city in Sindh province. Pakistan's repeated denials over the years have been consistently disputed by Indian officials and several Western governments.
26/11 Suspects Added to the Red Book
The FIA's updated 'Red Book' also lists 19 other individuals linked to the 26/11 Mumbai terror attacks of 2008. Of these, 17 have names, photographs, and role descriptions published. According to the FIA, these individuals are accused of helping transport attackers to Mumbai by sea, providing logistical support, or managing the operation. All 17 are said to have been absconding for the past 18 years.
The list also names 11 Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT) operatives accused of facilitating the sea voyage of the Mumbai attackers aboard the vessels Al-Hussaini and Al-Fauj. Six additional individuals accused of financing the 26/11 operation were also declared fugitives — among them Muhammad Iftikhar Ali (accused of spending ₹70,000 to set up VoIP links between attackers and handlers), Mohammad Zia (₹80,000), Mohammad Abbas Nasir (₹2,53,000), Javed Iqbal (₹1,86,430), and Mukhtar Ahmed (₹2,98,047).
Indian intelligence has labelled these listings 'absurd and fake', asserting that the individuals in question have consistently found safe refuge inside Pakistan.
Pakistan's Most-Wanted List Has Grown 35% in Five Years
The scale of Pakistan's own most-wanted roster tells a troubling story. In 2021, the FIA's Red Book carried 1,330 names. That figure has since climbed to 1,804 — a 35% rise in five years — raising questions about whether expansion of the list reflects genuine enforcement effort or an accumulation of cases without prosecution.
What Happens Next
The FATF plenary is expected next month, and Pakistan will be under pressure to demonstrate credible, verifiable action on terror financing. India is likely to use its diplomatic channels to counter the narrative that Islamabad's announcements reflect real enforcement. Unless accompanied by arrests, prosecutions, or asset seizures, analysts warn, the bounty hike risks being dismissed as performative compliance — as similar gestures have been in the past.
Point of View
Announced weeks before a FATF review, is not counter-terrorism — it is counter-scrutiny. The pattern is well-established; Islamabad has performed similar gestures at every major FATF checkpoint without follow-through in arrests or prosecutions. What is striking this time is the simultaneous addition of 26/11 suspects to the Red Book — 18 years after the attack — which reads less as accountability and more as archiving. India's diplomatic task is to ensure the FATF plenary treats verifiable enforcement outcomes, not list management, as the benchmark.
NationPress
14 Sept 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
Why has Pakistan raised the bounty on Masood Azhar now?
The bounty hike from ₹50 lakh to ₹70 lakh comes ahead of a Financial Action Task Force (FATF) plenary meeting expected next month, where Pakistan faces scrutiny over terror financing. International experts and Indian intelligence officials view the timing as a calculated move to deflect potential punitive action, rather than a genuine crackdown on the JeM chief.
Where is Masood Azhar believed to be hiding?
Indian intelligence agencies maintain that Masood Azhar is sheltering in Nawabshah, a city in Pakistan's Sindh province. This directly contradicts Pakistan's repeated official position — including in 2021 — that Azhar is not present on its soil.
Who else has Pakistan added to its FIA Red Book?
Pakistan's updated FIA 'Red Book' lists 19 additional individuals linked to the 26/11 Mumbai terror attacks of 2008, including 11 Lashkar-e-Taiba operatives accused of facilitating the sea voyage of the attackers. Six others accused of financing the operation — including Muhammad Iftikhar Ali, Mohammad Zia, and Javed Iqbal — were also declared fugitives. Indian intelligence disputes that any of them are actually absconding, asserting they remain on Pakistani soil.
What is the FATF and why does Pakistan fear its review?
The Financial Action Task Force (FATF) is an intergovernmental body that monitors countries' compliance with anti-money laundering and counter-terrorism financing standards. Pakistan has previously been placed on the FATF grey list, which restricts international financial transactions and harms its economy. The upcoming plenary will assess whether Pakistan has taken sufficient action against terror financing.
How large is Pakistan's most-wanted terrorist list today?
Pakistan's FIA Red Book now lists 1,804 most-wanted terrorists, up from 1,330 in 2021 — a 35% increase over five years. Critics argue the expansion of the list without corresponding arrests or prosecutions reflects a documentation exercise rather than genuine enforcement.
