Pakistan raises JeM chief Masood Azhar’s bounty to Rs 70 lakh

New Delhi: Pakistan on Monday raised the bounty on Jaish-e-Mohammed (JeM) chief and designated terrorist Masood Azhar to Rs 70 lakh and added his name to the Federal Investigation Agency’s (FIA) ‘Red Book’ of most-wanted terrorists.

The bounty on Azhar was previously Rs 50 lakh and has now been increased by Rs 20 lakh, while his inclusion in the most-wanted list marks another step that, on the surface, appears to signal action against terrorism.

However, top sources said the move was deliberately and tactically timed to avoid international scrutiny and potential punitive action at the upcoming plenary meeting of the Financial Action Task Force (FATF), scheduled for next month.

Several international experts have similarly viewed the move as an attempt by Pakistan to evade possible penalties during the FATF review.

Azhar, who has been accused of masterminding several terror attacks in India, including the Pulwama attack, has long been believed by Indian agencies to be hiding in Pakistan, although Islamabad has repeatedly denied sheltering him.

Pakistan has faced sustained international scrutiny over terror financing and allegations of allowing terrorist groups to operate from its territory. Against this backdrop, the increase in the bounty on Azhar has been viewed as an attempt to demonstrate action against terrorism ahead of the FATF review.

Pakistan had claimed in 2021 that Azhar was not in the country. The FIA had announced a Rs 50 lakh bounty on him that year.

Indian intelligence agencies, however, maintain that Azhar continues to remain in hiding in Pakistan and is believed to be staying in Nawabshah in Sindh province.

Besides Azhar, the FIA’s latest ‘Red Book’ includes 19 other terrorists linked to the 26/11 Mumbai terror attacks. They have been accused of helping transport the attackers to Mumbai by sea, providing financial assistance or playing various roles in facilitating the operation.

For 17 of these terrorists, the list includes their names, photographs and details of their alleged roles in the 26/11 attacks.

The ‘Red Book’ also names 11 Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT) terrorists accused of facilitating the sea journey of the Mumbai attackers using the vessels Al-Hussaini and Al-Fauj.

Six others accused of providing financial support during the 26/11 attacks have also been declared fugitives. They include Muhammad Iftikhar Ali, accused of spending Rs 70,000 to establish VoIP communication links between the attackers and their handlers; Mohammad Zia, accused of providing Rs 80,000; Mohammad Abbas Nasir, Rs 2.53 lakh; Javed Iqbal, Rs 1,86,430; and Mukhtar Ahmed, Rs 2,98,047.

According to the FIA, 17 terrorists linked to the 26/11 attacks have been absconding for the past 18 years.

Indian intelligence agencies have dismissed these claims as absurd and fake, maintaining that the accused have consistently found safe refuge on Pakistani soil.

Their inclusion in the ‘most wanted’ list has consequently been viewed by Indian agencies as an attempt to deflect international pressure rather than genuine action against terrorism.

The number of terrorists listed as ‘Most Wanted’ in Pakistan’s Red Book has also risen sharply over the past five years. The figure stood at 1,330 in 2021 and has now increased to 1,804, a rise of 35 per cent.

With IANS inputs