The updated FIA Red Book includes Azhar and several suspects linked to the 26/11 Mumbai attacks, as Pakistan faces renewed international scrutiny over its counter-terrorism efforts….reports Asian Lite News. Desk
Pakistan’s Federal Investigation Agency (FIA) has included Jaish-e-Mohammed (JeM) chief Masood Azhar in its 2026 list of most-wanted terrorists, raising the bounty on his arrest from PKR 50 lakh to PKR 70 lakh.
However, sources described the move as an attempt by Pakistan to project action against terror suspects while avoiding international scrutiny ahead of the Financial Action Task Force (FATF) plenary scheduled for October.
According to sources, Pakistan has maintained since 2021 that Azhar is no longer in the country and had fled to Afghanistan. The FIA had placed a PKR 50 lakh reward on him at the time. Five years later, the agency has increased the bounty to PKR 70 lakh.
Indian intelligence assessments, however, reportedly contradict Pakistan’s claim that Azhar is hiding in Afghanistan. Sources said technical analysis conducted by Indian intelligence agencies over the past six months indicates that the JeM chief is hiding in Nawabshah in Pakistan’s Sindh province.
Azhar has been linked to several terror attacks in India, including the February 2019 Pulwama attack.
The latest FIA Red Book also includes 19 terrorists allegedly linked to the 26/11 Mumbai terror attacks, including individuals accused of assisting, financing or managing boats used to transport the attackers.
Sources said that while 17 of the 19 suspects are listed with photographs and details of their alleged roles, the FIA has removed photographs, Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT) affiliations and operational details of two individuals, retaining only their names.
Among them is Muhammad Khan of Turbat, who allegedly provided the boat Al-Hussaini used to transport the Mumbai attackers. Sources said his photograph, LeT affiliation and role, which were included in the FIA’s 2021 list, have been removed from the latest version.
Similarly, the photograph and LeT affiliation of Abdul Rehman of Bahawalnagar have reportedly been removed. His details and alleged role had also appeared in the 2021 FIA list.
The updated roster identifies 11 LeT operatives allegedly involved in facilitating the attackers’ sea journey aboard the boats Al-Hussaini and Al-Fauz. They include Muhammad Amjad Khan of Multan, Shahid Gafoor of Bahawalpur, Mohammad Usman of Sahiwal, Ateeq-ur-Rehman of Lahore, Riaz Ahmad of Hafizabad, Muhammad Mushtaq of Gujranwala, Muhammad Naeem of Dera Ghazi Khan, Abdul Shakoor of Karachi, Muhammad Sabir Salfi of Multan, Muhammad Usman of Lodhran and Shakeel Ahmed of Rahim Yar Khan.
The FIA list also names six individuals accused of providing financial support for the 26/11 attacks.
They include Muhammad Iftikhar Ali of Faisalabad, who allegedly spent PKR 70,000 to establish VOIP connections between the attackers and their handlers; Mohammad Zia of Rawalpindi, who allegedly provided PKR 80,000; Mohammad Abbas Nasir of Khanewal, who allegedly contributed PKR 2.53 lakh; Javed Iqbal of Kasur, who allegedly supplied PKR 1.86 lakh; Mukhtar Ahmad of Mandi Bahauddin, who allegedly donated PKR 2.98 lakh; and Ahmed Saeed of Battagram, who allegedly provided PKR 21 lakh.
According to the FIA, the 17 individuals linked to the Mumbai attacks have remained absconding for 18 years.
Indian intelligence sources, however, claim that the suspects remain in Pakistan, alleging that their inclusion in the FIA’s most-wanted list amounts to an attempt to deflect international scrutiny rather than evidence of effective action against them.
The number of individuals listed as most-wanted terrorists by the FIA has also increased significantly in recent years. The latest Red Book contains 1,804 names, compared with 1,330 in the 2021 edition, representing an increase of about 35 per cent.
The development comes against the backdrop of India’s military action against terror infrastructure in Pakistan under Operation Sindoor. The JeM headquarters, Markaz Subhanallah in Bahawalpur, was among the facilities India said was targeted during the operation.
The Indian Armed Forces said the facility, located about 100 km inside Pakistan, was destroyed during the precision strikes.
Markaz Subhanallah has been described as a key JeM centre for training, indoctrination and operational activities. The facility, which became operational in 2015, has been associated with planning and activities linked to the terror group, including the Pulwama attack.
According to Indian security assessments, the complex included residences used by JeM chief Masood Azhar, the group’s de facto chief Mufti Abdul Rauf Asghar, Maulana Ammar and other members of Azhar’s family.
Azhar has also reportedly delivered speeches from the facility promoting anti-India rhetoric and calling on youths to join jihadist activities. The centre was also used for arms, physical and religious training of JeM cadres, according to the assessments
