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Masood Azhar · India

India calls Pakistan’s Azhar bounty move phoney

15 sourcesUpdated 15 Sept 2026, 11:45 am Coverage regionsIndia · Delhi · International
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India said Pakistan’s move to raise the bounty on Jaish-e-Mohammed chief Masood Azhar was a gimmick.

MEA spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal urged Pakistan to take concrete action against terrorism.

Pakistan’s Federal Investigation Agency raised the reward to PKR 70 lakh and kept Azhar on its most-wanted list.

Several reports said the move was seen as linked to upcoming FATF scrutiny.

More context

One report said Pakistan says Azhar is in Afghanistan, while Indian intelligence believes he is in Sindh province.

AGREEMENT VS DISAGREEMENT

What lines up. What splits.

A quick read on shared facts, changing details, and different emphasis.

What coverage agrees on

The reporting broadly agrees that India rejected Pakistan’s bounty increase as a phoney announcement and pressed for real action against terrorism. It also agrees that Pakistan raised the reward for information on Masood Azhar to PKR 70 lakh.

What is changing or disputed

The accounts differ on the surrounding context, including whether the move was aimed at the FATF meeting and where Azhar is believed to be. Those details remain tied to claims and assessments cited in the reporting.

HOW COVERAGE DIFFERS

Same story. Different emphasis.

Swipe through the perspectives. Labels describe coverage framing, not truth or quality.

Critical9

The reporting consistently presents India as dismissing Pakistan’s action as a phoney gimmick or gimmick meant to deceive. It emphasizes the call for concrete action against terror networks instead of hollow announcements. Several pieces connect the move to FATF scrutiny, while one notes Pakistan’s claim that Azhar is in Afghanistan and India’s view that he is in Sindh province.

STORY TIMELINE

How the coverage developed

The latest eight dated reports, from earliest to newest.

GO DEEPER

Read the reporting

Scan each source take, then open the original article.

Hindustan Times Critical framing Provisional rating

'Gimmicks, phoney announcement': India on Pakistan's move to raise bounty on Jaish chief Masood Azhar |…

Quick source take

India strongly condemned Pakistan's move to raise the bounty on Jaish-e-Mohammed chief Masood Azhar, labelling it a gimmick and a phoney announcement lacking any real consequence. During a press briefing, MEA spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal urged Pakistan to take concrete action against terrorism rather than issuing hollow statements. Pakistan's Federal Investigation Agency included Azhar in its most-wanted list with an increased reward of PKR 70 lakh, a maneuver observers link to upcoming FATF meetings designed to avoid grey-listing.

India Today Critical framing Provisional rating

Phoney pre-FATF move: India slams Pakistan over Rs 20 lakh Masood Azhar bounty hike

Quick source take

The Indian Ministry of External Affairs slammed Pakistan's increase of the bounty on Jaish-e-Mohammed chief Masood Azhar as a phoney announcement and a gimmick aimed at hoodwinking the public ahead of the FATF meeting. MEA spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal urged Islamabad to pursue concrete action instead of hollow statements. Pakistan's Federal Investigation Agency raised the bounty from PKR 50 lakh to PKR 70 lakh, maintaining that Azhar is in Afghanistan, whereas Indian intelligence believes he is in Pakistan's Sindh province.

India.com Critical framing Reported

'Phoney announcement’: India hits out at Pakistan over increased bounty on Masood Azhar

Quick source take

India sharply criticized Pakistan over its decision to increase the bounty on Jaish-e-Mohammed chief Masood Azhar, describing the move as a phoney announcement and an attempt to deceive. New Delhi called on Islamabad to replace hollow statements with concrete action against terror networks. Pakistan's Federal Investigation Agency raised the reward for information leading to Azhar's arrest to PKR 70 lakh in its 2026 Red Book, a step analysts and observers believe is intended to avoid increased scrutiny during the upcoming FATF plenary.

IANS LIVE Critical framing Reported

Such gimmicks and hoodwinking not new: India on Pakistan increasing bounty on Jaish chief Masood Azhar

Quick source take

India dismissed Pakistan's decision to increase the bounty on Jaish-e-Mohammed chief Masood Azhar as a phoney gimmick meant to hoodwink the international community. Ministry of External Affairs spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal stated that Islamabad must take concrete action against terrorists rather than making hollow announcements. Meanwhile, Pakistan's Federal Investigation Agency raised the reward to PKR 70 lakh while claiming Azhar is hiding in Afghanistan, a claim rejected by Indian intelligence and global observers who view the move as an attempt to evade FATF scrutiny.

The Times of India Critical framing Provisional rating

Pak raising Azhar bounty a gimmick, says India

Quick source take

The Times of India reports that the Indian government has dismissed Pakistan's decision to increase the financial bounty on UN-proscribed Jaish-e-Muhammed chief Masood Azhar as a gimmick and hoodwinking. According to Ministry of External Affairs spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal, Pakistan is a state sponsor of terror making hollow announcements rather than taking tangible action. Officials noted that Azhar remains listed in Pakistan's Federal Investigation Agency Red Book and is wanted in India for multiple terror cases, including the 2001 Parliament attack.

thekashmirimages.com Critical framing Reported

‘Gimmicks’: India on Pakistan’s fresh announcement on Masood Azhar bounty

Quick source take

The Kashmir Images reports that India dismissed Pakistan's announcement of a seven million rupees bounty on Jaish-e-Mohammed chief Masood Azhar as gimmicks and demanded concrete action. External Affairs Ministry spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal stated that the announcement is of no consequence from a state sponsor of terrorism. The article outlines background regarding Pakistan maintaining the bounty while facing pressure from the Financial Action Task Force, and notes claims and counterclaims regarding Azhar's location involving Pakistan, Afghanistan, and India. Additionally, the Jammu and Kashmir BJP unit called the bounty a big fraud and urged Islamabad to hand Azhar over to India.

The Tribune Critical framing Reported

Pakistan knows where Azhar is, should arrest him: India

Quick source take

The Tribune reports that India has dismissed Pakistan's decision to increase the bounty on Jaish-e-Mohammed chief Masood Azhar from PKR 50 lakh to PKR 70 lakh as a phony announcement. MEA spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal stated that Islamabad knows where the UN-designated terrorist is and should arrest him instead of resorting to familiar gimmicks. The report notes that Azhar is wanted in India for attacks including the 2001 Parliament attack, the 2016 Pathankot airbase attack, and the 2019 Pulwama attack. Furthermore, the development coincides with expectations that Pakistan's record on countering terrorist financing will face scrutiny at an upcoming Financial Action Task Force plenary in Paris.

Social News XYZ Critical framing Reported

Such gimmicks and hoodwinking not new: India on Pakistan increasing bounty on Jaish chief Masood Azhar

Quick source take

India has strongly dismissed Pakistan's decision to increase a financial bounty for information on Jaish-e-Mohammed chief Masood Azhar as a phoney gimmick intended to hoodwink international bodies like the FATF. Ministry of External Affairs spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal criticized the announcement during a media briefing, stating that Islamabad routinely makes hollow statements instead of taking genuine counter-terrorism action. Meanwhile, the report notes that Pakistan's Federal Investigation Agency claims Azhar is hiding in Afghanistan, a claim rejected by Indian intelligence and global observers who maintain he remains inside Pakistan.

The Hindu Critical framing Provisional rating

'Gimmicks': India on Pakistan's fresh announcement on Masood Azhar bounty

Quick source take

The Hindu reports that India dismissed Pakistan's recent announcement of a bounty on Jaish-e-Mohammed chief Masood Azhar as gimmicks and hoodwinking. External Affairs Ministry spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal stated that Islamabad must take concrete action against terrorism instead of making phoney announcements. The report notes that Azhar is wanted in India for multiple major terror attacks and details ongoing international pressure on Pakistan regarding terror financing and counter-terrorism measures.