Pakistan hikes bounty on JeM chief Masood Azhar to PKR 7 million ahead of FATF plenary

Azhar remains listed by Pakistan's Federal Investigation Agency (FIA) as one of the country's most-wanted high-profile terrorists in its 2026 Red Book.

The FIA's Counter Terrorism Wing confirms that it maintains and publishes the annual Red Book of most-wanted terrorists.

The move comes ahead of the FATF's October plenary in Paris, scheduled from October 26 to 30, where issues related to money laundering and terrorist financing will be discussed.

Masood Azhar listed as fugitive

Pakistan has for years maintained that Azhar is no longer in the country and has claimed that he fled to Afghanistan.

Despite that position, his name continues to appear in the FIA's official records as a wanted terrorist.

The latest Red Book listing identifies Azhar as a fugitive and carries a higher financial reward for information that could lead to his arrest.

The development has drawn attention because of Azhar's long-standing status as the founder and chief of JeM, a Pakistan-based terrorist organisation designated by the United Nations.

The group has traditionally been associated with its base in Bahawalpur, Punjab, where its infrastructure has featured prominently in India's counterterrorism concerns.

Pakistan lists JeM chief Masood Azhar as "fugitive", hikes bounty

FATF plenary due in October

The increase in the bounty comes weeks before the FATF's next plenary meeting in Paris.

The global financial crime watchdog sets international standards aimed at combating money laundering and terrorist financing.

Its recommendations cover measures countries should adopt to address financial flows connected to terrorism and other illicit activities.

Pakistan was removed from the FATF list of jurisdictions under increased monitoring in October 2022 after completing an action plan addressing identified deficiencies.

FATF's current country record does not list Pakistan as being under increased monitoring.

The timing of the Azhar listing and the increased bounty has nevertheless brought renewed attention to Pakistan's counterterrorism measures ahead of the October meeting.

Azhar linked to major terror attacks

Azhar has remained a central figure in India's account of cross-border terrorism.

JeM has been linked to several major attacks in India, including the 2001 Parliament attack, the 2016 Pathankot airbase attack and the 2019 Pulwama bombing.

The organisation has also been associated with other attacks targeting India.

Azhar himself was designated as a global terrorist by the United Nations Security Council.

His name has again featured prominently in security discussions following the November 2025 blast near Delhi's Red Fort.

From IC-814 hijacking to JeM

Azhar was previously held in an Indian prison before his release following the hijacking of Indian Airlines flight IC-814 in December 1999.

Five armed men hijacked the aircraft while it was flying from Kathmandu to Delhi.

The plane was subsequently diverted through Amritsar, Lahore and Dubai before reaching Kandahar in Afghanistan, which was then under Taliban control.

After a prolonged hostage crisis, India agreed to release Azhar and two other jailed terrorists in exchange for the passengers held aboard the aircraft.

Following his release, Azhar founded Jaish-e-Mohammed around 1999-2000 and subsequently emerged as one of the most prominent figures associated with Islamist militancy targeting India.

Azhar's family killed in Operation Sindoor

Azhar also came under renewed attention following India's Operation Sindoor in May 2025.

India launched strikes on May 7 against nine sites linked to terrorist infrastructure following the April 22, 2025, Pahalgam terror attack.

Azhar survived the strikes, but reports said several members of his family and associates were killed during the operation.

At least 10 members of his extended family were reported to have died, including his elder sister, her husband, a nephew, the nephew's wife, a niece and five children.

Four of his aides were also reported to have been killed.

The sites targeted during Operation Sindoor included locations associated with terrorist infrastructure in Pakistan and Pakistan-occupied Kashmir.

Red Book listing draws fresh attention

The latest FIA listing places Azhar once again in Pakistan's formal record of high-profile wanted terrorists, despite Islamabad's repeated assertion that he is not present in the country.

The FIA says its Counter Terrorism Wing handles terrorism and terrorist financing investigations and maintains the national criminal database from which the Red Book of most-wanted terrorists is compiled.