Pakistan’s Federal Investigation Agency (FIA) has released its updated 2026 Red Book of most wanted terrorists, prominently naming Jaish-e-Mohammed chief Masood Azhar. The agency has also raised the reward for information leading to his arrest to ₹70 lakh from ₹50 lakh announced in 2021. The move is being viewed as an attempt to project action against terrorism ahead of the Financial Action Task Force’s October plenary and avoid a return to the grey list.

In 2021, Pakistan claimed that Azhar had fled to Afghanistan while announcing a ₹50 lakh bounty for him. Five years later, the reward has been increased. However, Indian intelligence assessments from the past six months indicate that Azhar is hiding in Nawabshah city in Sindh province. He remains accused of masterminding several terror attacks in India, including the 2019 Pulwama attack.

The latest Red Book also names 19 terrorists linked to the 26/11 Mumbai attacks. They were involved in financing the operation, assisting the attackers or managing the boats used during their sea journey. Seventeen are listed with photographs and details of their roles. Pakistan has removed the photographs, Lashkar-e-Taiba links and operational details of two others, leaving only their names.

Among those named are 11 Lashkar-e-Taiba operatives who helped facilitate the attackers’ journey on the boats Al-Hussaini and Al-Fauz. They include Muhammad Amjad Khan from Multan, Shahid Gafoor from Bahawalpur, Mohammad Usman from Sahiwal, Ateeq-ur-Rehman from Lahore, Riaz Ahmad from Hafizabad, Muhammad Mushtaq from Gujranwala, Muhammad Naeem from Dera Ghazi Khan, Abdul Shakoor from Karachi, Muhammad Sabir Salfi from Multan, Muhammad Usman from Lodhran and Shakeel Ahmed from Rahim Yar Khan.

Six others are listed for providing financial support. Muhammad Iftikhar Ali from Faisalabad spent ₹0.70 lakh to establish VOIP connections between the attackers and their handlers. Mohammad Zia from Rawalpindi contributed ₹0.80 lakh, while Mohammad Abbas Nasir from Khanewal gave ₹2.53 lakh. Javed Iqbal from Kasur provided ₹1.86 lakh, Mukhtar Ahmad from Mandi Bahauddin contributed ₹2.98 lakh and Ahmed Saeed from Battagram provided ₹21 lakh.

The FIA says all 17 terrorists connected to the 26/11 attacks have been absconding for 18 years. Indian intelligence sources, however, maintain that they remain in Pakistan. Their inclusion in the Red Book is therefore being seen as an attempt to create an impression of action while deflecting international scrutiny.

The number of most wanted terrorists listed by Pakistan has also risen sharply. The latest figure stands at 1,804, up 35% from 1,330 in 2021.

Meanwhile, India’s Operation Sindoor targeted the JeM headquarters, Markaz Subhan Allah, in Bahawalpur. Located around 100 km inside Pakistan, the facility was destroyed by Indian forces. Operational since 2015, it served as a major JeM training and indoctrination centre and was linked to planning attacks, including Pulwama.

The facility housed Masood Azhar, JeM leader Mufti Abdul Rauf Asghar, Maulana Ammar and other family members. Azhar also addressed gatherings there, promoting anti-India rhetoric and calling on young people to join jihad. JeM cadres received arms, physical and religious training at the centre.