India Calls Pakistan’s Fresh Masood Azhar Bounty Announcement a ‘Gimmick’

India has dismissed Pakistan’s latest announcement of a reward for information leading to the arrest of Jaish-e-Mohammed chief Masood Azhar, calling it a “gimmick” and questioning Islamabad’s seriousness in taking action against the UN-designated terrorist.

The reaction came after Pakistan announced a cash reward of PKR 7 million for information that could help authorities locate and arrest Azhar. The announcement was seen by India as an attempt to demonstrate action against the Jaish-e-Mohammed founder, who has long been wanted by Indian authorities for his alleged role in terrorism-related activities.

Responding to the development, the Ministry of External Affairs said Pakistan should take concrete steps instead of making what it described as a “phoney announcement”. India has repeatedly maintained that Pakistan needs to act against terrorist organisations and individuals operating from its territory.

Azhar, the founder of Jaish-e-Mohammed, has been a prominent figure in India-Pakistan counterterrorism discussions for years. He was designated as a global terrorist by the United Nations in 2019 following sustained diplomatic efforts by India. His organisation has been accused of carrying out several major terror attacks in India.

The fresh reward announcement comes at a significant time for Pakistan, with the country facing international scrutiny over its efforts to combat terrorism and terrorist financing. Pakistan has been seeking to demonstrate compliance with global standards as it engages with international financial monitoring mechanisms.

Indian officials have argued that Pakistan is already aware of Azhar’s whereabouts and therefore does not need a public reward to locate him. According to the Indian position, Islamabad should instead arrest him, prosecute him and take verifiable action against the network associated with Jaish-e-Mohammed.

The issue has also renewed attention on Pakistan’s handling of individuals and organisations designated under international counterterrorism frameworks. India has consistently called for stronger and demonstrable action against terrorist groups operating from Pakistani territory.

The latest exchange highlights the continuing differences between New Delhi and Islamabad over terrorism and Pakistan’s obligations to prevent its territory from being used for activities directed against other countries.