India has criticised Pakistan’s latest Masood Azhar bounty announcement, with the Ministry of External Affairs calling the move a “gimmick” and asking Islamabad to take concrete action. Pakistan’s Federal Investigation Agency has listed Jaish-e-Mohammed chief Masood Azhar in its 2026 Red Book of most-wanted terrorists.The reward for information leading to his arrest or conviction has been raised from PKR 50 lakh to PKR 70 lakh. The development comes ahead of the Financial Action Task Force’s next plenary meeting scheduled for October. India has questioned the practical significance of the announcement while Pakistan continues to maintain that Azhar is not in the country.Why India Questioned The Bounty?The Masood Azhar bounty was discussed at a media briefing after Pakistan updated its most-wanted list. MEA spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal said India had seen similar announcements in the past and called for concrete action against terrorism instead.India has also said Pakistan should take action against sanctioned terrorists rather than only announcing rewards. These comments represent the Indian government's position, while Pakistan's official position on Azhar's whereabouts has remained that he left the country.Pakistan raised the reward to PKR 70 lakh.Azhar remains in the FIA's 2026 Red Book.The FIA lists him as a fugitive.India has called for concrete counter-terrorism action.The next FATF plenary is scheduled for October.What Does Red Book Listing Mean?The Red Book is the Federal Investigation Agency's list of most-wanted terrorists. Azhar's entry in the 2026 edition includes a reward of PKR 7 million for information leading directly to his apprehension or conviction. The reward had previously been PKR 5 million when he was included in the agency's earlier listing.Masood Azhar founded Jaish-e-Mohammed and has been designated a terrorist by the United Nations Security Council. India has sought his arrest in connection with multiple major terror cases, including the 2001 Parliament attack, the 2016 Pathankot attack and the 2019 Pulwama bombing.Why Is FATF Relevant Now?The timing of the Pakistan Masood Azhar bounty announcement has attracted attention because the FATF is scheduled to hold its next plenary in Paris from October 26 to 30. Pakistan was previously placed under increased monitoring by the global financial crime watchdog from 2018 to 2022 before being removed from the list.Indian officials have questioned whether the updated listing and increased reward amount to sufficient action. However, reports describing the move as connected to FATF pressure are based on assessments or sources cited by media outlets, rather than a publicly confirmed FATF finding about this specific announcement.Also Read: India Pakistan Naval Collision: MEA Protests After Arabian Sea IncidentIndia Seeks Concrete ActionThe latest India on Pakistan Masood Azhar bounty response focuses on what New Delhi says should follow the announcement. Jaiswal said Pakistan should take concrete steps rather than make announcements that, in India's assessment, have little practical consequence.Pakistan has maintained since 2021 that Azhar is no longer in the country and has claimed that he fled to Afghanistan. The Taliban government has rejected Pakistan's claim about his presence in Afghanistan, while India has separately disputed Islamabad's account. His exact whereabouts therefore remain contested in public reporting.Key HighlightsPakistan increased the Masood Azhar bounty to PKR 70 lakh.Azhar remains listed in the FIA's 2026 Red Book.India described the announcement as a gimmick.The MEA called for concrete counter-terrorism action.The development comes before the October FATF plenary.Pakistan maintains that Azhar fled to Afghanistan.What Happens Next?The Masood Azhar bounty announcement is now part of a wider diplomatic discussion between India and Pakistan over terrorism and the treatment of wanted individuals. Pakistan's updated Red Book formally records Azhar as a wanted fugitive and increases the financial reward for information.The significance of the development will depend on what further action Pakistani authorities take and how international bodies assess the country's counter-terrorism and terrorist-financing measures. For now, India has publicly rejected the announcement as sufficient action, while Pakistan's updated listing remains in place.ConclusionThe Masood Azhar bounty has been increased to PKR 70 lakh in Pakistan's latest FIA Red Book listing. India has criticised the announcement and urged Pakistan to take concrete action against wanted terrorists. The development has received additional attention because of the upcoming FATF plenary in October. Azhar's whereabouts remain disputed, and further action by Pakistani authorities could shape the next stage of the issue.Disclaimer: This content is provided only for knowledge purposes and to provide news information.
