Pakistan Raises Bounty on Jaish Chief Masood Azhar to Rs 24 Lakh Ahead of FATF Review

Pakistan has increased the reward for information leading to the arrest of Jaish-e-Mohammed (JeM) chief Masood Azhar to 7 million Pakistani rupees — roughly Rs 24.09 lakh — even as the Federal Investigation Agency (FIA) continues to list him among the country's most-wanted terrorists. The revision became public weeks before the Financial Action Task Force (FATF) holds its plenary meeting in Paris from October 26 to 30.

FATF plenary sessions review the progress of countries placed under enhanced monitoring and take up issues relating to terrorist financing and money laundering. Pakistan was removed from the FATF's "grey list" of countries under increased monitoring in October 2022, after four years on it.

Islamabad has for years maintained that Azhar is not on its soil and has said he fled to Afghanistan. His name, however, remains on the FIA's official records, including its "Red Book of Most Wanted High-Profile Terrorists".

Who is Masood Azhar?

Azhar, 58, is the founder and chief of JeM, a Pakistan-based organisation accused of carrying out some of the most serious attacks against India over the past two decades. The group's base has traditionally been associated with Bahawalpur in Pakistan's Punjab province.

He has been designated an international terrorist by the United Nations Security Council. In India's account of cross-border terrorism, Azhar has long occupied a prominent place. JeM has been linked to the 2001 attack on Parliament, the 2008 Mumbai attacks, the 2016 Pathankot airbase attack and the 2019 Pulwama bombing. His name surfaced again after a blast near Delhi's Red Fort on November 10, 2025.

Azhar was once in Indian custody. He was released in December 1999, after five terrorists hijacked Indian Airlines flight IC-814 while it was flying from Kathmandu to Delhi. The aircraft was diverted through Amritsar, Lahore and Dubai before being taken to Kandahar in Afghanistan, then under Taliban control. After a prolonged hostage crisis, India agreed to release Azhar and two other jailed terrorists in exchange for the passengers. He founded JeM around 1999-2000.

Azhar survived Operation Sindoor, the Indian strikes launched on May 7 against nine sites harbouring terrorist infrastructure, which followed the Pahalgam terror attack. At least 10 members of his family were reported killed, along with four of his aides.

Those killed included Azhar's elder sister, her husband, a nephew, the nephew's wife, a niece, and five children from the extended family.

The timing of the revised reward has drawn attention because of its proximity to the FATF meeting. India has repeatedly demanded that Pakistan act against Azhar and JeM, and Pakistan's record on international commitments regarding terror financing remains under periodic review by the global watchdog.