‘Such gimmicks are nothing new’: India slams Pakistan over 'phoney announcement' of Rs 70 lakh bounty on - The Times of India

**India dismisses Pakistan’s “phoney” bounty announcement on Masood Azhar** *New Delhi, Sept 15 2026* – Pakistan’s foreign ministry announced on Thursday that it would pay a reward of **Rs 70 lakh (≈ US $84,000)** to anyone who provides reliable information leading to the capture of Masood Azhar, the founder of the Jaish‑e‑Mohammed (JeM) militant group. New Delhi immediately branded the move a “gimmick” and a “phoney announcement,” noting that the terrorist is already listed on Pakistan’s own most‑wanted roster with a **Rs 7 million bounty**. The Indian side added that the timing of the statement – just weeks before Pakistan’s scheduled review by the Financial Action Task Force (FATF) – underscores an attempt to deflect criticism over Islamabad’s alleged support for terror financing.

Masood Azhar, designated a global terrorist by the United Nations, the United States and the European Union, has been implicated in a string of high‑profile attacks, most notably the 2008 Mumbai attacks that killed 166 people. India has long sought his extradition, maintaining that he is a “terror sponsor” who continues to operate from Pakistani soil. Pakistan, for its part, has repeatedly claimed that Azhar is either in hiding within its borders or, more recently, that he resides in Afghanistan. Kabul, however, rejected the Pakistani claim, stating that the JeM founder is **not** present in Afghanistan. The contradictory narratives have added another layer of diplomatic friction between the two neighbours.

In response to the bounty announcement, a spokesperson for India’s Ministry of External Affairs said the offer “does not reflect any genuine intent to bring the terror mastermind to justice” and that “such gimmicks are nothing new” in Islamabad’s playbook. Pakistan’s foreign office defended the measure as “a sincere step to encourage informants,” while also emphasizing that the bounty does not replace the existing Rs 7 million reward. International observers, including FATF officials, have urged both countries to demonstrate concrete action against terror financing rather than symbolic gestures. The episode is likely to further strain Indo‑Pak relations ahead of the upcoming FATF assessment, which could impact Pakistan’s access to global financial markets.