Pakistan Lists Masood Azhar as Fugitive, Increases Bounty to PKR 70 Lakh

Pakistan has listed Jaish-e-Mohammed (JeM) chief Masood Azhar in the latest edition of the Federal Investigation Agency’s (FIA) Red Book, which contains details of high-profile fugitives and wanted terrorists.

The development marks a notable change in the way Pakistani authorities officially identify the UN-designated terrorist. According to intelligence sources, Islamabad has also increased the reward for information leading to Azhar’s arrest by PKR 20 lakh, taking the total bounty to PKR 70 lakh.

Pakistan Lists Masood Azhar as Absconder

The move comes amid continued international scrutiny of Pakistan’s record on countering terrorism financing, militant networks and money laundering.

Sources cited by CNN-News18 said the decision to publicly identify Azhar as an absconder and increase the reward could help Pakistan demonstrate compliance with international counterterrorism and anti-money laundering obligations.

Azhar has long remained a major point of contention between India and Pakistan. He is the founder and chief of Jaish-e-Mohammed, which has been designated as a terrorist organisation by the United Nations.

Indian Agencies Say Azhar Is Operating From Pakistan

Indian security agencies have consistently maintained that Azhar continues to operate from Pakistani territory. Islamabad, however, has previously claimed that he fled to Afghanistan.

According to Indian technical intelligence cited by sources, Azhar is currently believed to be located in Nawabshah in Pakistan’s Sindh province.

His inclusion in the FIA’s Red Book comes as Pakistan continues to face questions over its efforts to act against militant groups and ensure greater cooperation with international law-enforcement agencies.

Questions Remain Over Action Against JeM Chief

While the listing formally places Azhar within Pakistan’s own wanted-person framework, security sources have described the development as potentially tactical.

According to the sources, publicly declaring a high-profile fugitive wanted and increasing the bounty could allow Islamabad to demonstrate that action is being taken without necessarily indicating that the broader leadership structures or operational networks of militant organisations have been dismantled.

The development is therefore likely to attract close attention in India and internationally. Whether Pakistan’s latest designation results in concrete action against Azhar remains a key question.