Pakistan Lists JeM Chief Masood Azhar as Fugitive, Raises Bounty

Pakistan has officially listed Masood Azhar, the chief of the terrorist group Jaish-e-Mohammed (JeM), as a fugitive and increased the bounty on his head. This action was taken ahead of the Financial Action Task Force (FATF) review, signaling Islamabad's attempt to address concerns over terror financing, a government official said.

The Pakistani authorities have updated their list of fugitives to include Masood Azhar, who is internationally recognized as the leader of JeM. Alongside this, the government has raised the reward amount for information leading to his capture. This step is seen as part of Pakistan's efforts to comply with FATF requirements and to demonstrate its commitment to combating terrorism financing.

Experts note that the timing of this move is significant, coming just before the FATF's scheduled review of Pakistan's progress. The listing and bounty increase may be aimed at improving Pakistan's standing in the international community and addressing longstanding concerns about the country's role in harbouring terrorist elements.