India on Tuesday condemned Pakistan's announcement of a PKR 70 lakh reward for information leading to the arrest or conviction of Jaish-e-Mohammed (JeM) chief Masood Azhar, calling it a 'phoney' move. Ministry of External Affairs spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal stated that Islamabad's announcement was unlikely to have any real impact, noting that such 'gimmicks' are not new. The statement followed Pakistan's continued listing of Azhar in the Federal Investigation Agency's (FIA) 'Red Book' of most-wanted terrorists, with the reward retained in its 2026 edition.

Azhar, the founder and chief of JeM, is wanted in India for several terror cases, including the 2001 Parliament attack and the 2016 Pathankot airbase attack. India has also linked JeM to the 2019 Pulwama bombing. His name was first included in the FIA's Red Book in 2021 and has been retained in its 2026 edition, listed at serial number 1480 among 1,804 most-wanted terrorists. The FIA entry identifies Azhar as the head of Jaish-e-Mohammad and states the reward is for information leading directly to his 'apprehension or conviction'.

The cases cited against Azhar in the FIA list were registered in Gujranwala, Multan and Lahore under Pakistan's Anti-Terrorism Act. India has long accused Pakistan of sheltering Azhar, though Islamabad maintains he fled to Afghanistan, a claim rejected by the Taliban government. Azhar was among the fugitives India sought from Pakistan following the 2008 Mumbai terror attacks, in which 10 Lashkar-e-Taiba terrorists killed 166 people.

The latest development comes ahead of the Financial Action Task Force's (FATF) next plenary in Paris from October 26 to 30. Pakistan was placed on the FATF's increased monitoring list, commonly known as the grey list, in 2018 and remained there until 2022. It was removed after completing commitments under two FATF action plans focused on strengthening its anti-money laundering and counter-terror financing framework and implementing targeted financial sanctions.

The Indian government's criticism highlights ongoing tensions between the two nations over terrorism and cross-border issues. The reward offer is seen as a symbolic gesture rather than a genuine effort to apprehend Azhar. The situation remains unresolved, with uncertainty about Azhar's current whereabouts and the effectiveness of Pakistan's measures.

The Indian government's stance underscores its continued concern over Pakistan's role in supporting terrorist activities. While Pakistan maintains that Azhar is in Afghanistan, the Taliban's denial of this claim leaves the matter open to debate. The FATF's upcoming review may influence the international perception of Pakistan's compliance with counter-terrorism measures. However, the lack of concrete action from Islamabad raises questions about the sincerity of its commitments to combat terrorism.

The case of Masood Azhar remains a focal point in the broader context of Indo-Pak relations. The Indian government's criticism reflects its broader strategy of holding Pakistan accountable for its alleged support of terrorist groups. The absence of a clear response from Pakistan leaves the issue in limbo, with the international community awaiting further developments. The situation highlights the complexities of cross-border terrorism and the challenges of international cooperation in addressing it.