Masood Azhar’s bounty walking: Is Pakistan’s FATF relocation simply symbolic? Professional weighs in
Food
Pakistan seems making a restored effort to show that it is acting versus terrorism and horror funding ahead of the Financial Action Task Force (FATF) plenary in October.
In a relocation that is currently drawing analysis, Pakistan’s Federal Investigation Agency (FIA) on Monday launched its 2026 list of most-wanted terrorists, with Jaish-e-Mohammed (JeM) chief Masood Azhar including in the company’s Red Book.
The FIA has actually likewise increased the bounty on Azhar by PKR 20 lakh, taking the overall benefit to PKR 70 lakh.
Quick responses to crucial concerns
The increased bounty on Masood Azhar intends to show Pakistan’s dedication to combating terrorism and fear funding ahead of the FATF plenary, which is important for avoiding Pakistan from going back to the FATF grey list.
Pakistan has actually formerly taken comparable actions to assure FATF member nations of its efforts versus terrorism, which is typically viewed as a technique to alleviate global examination and pressure.
The FATF assesses Pakistan’s compliance based upon the compound of its actions, consisting of enforcement efforts versus terrorism, instead of simply symbolic gestures like increasing bounties.
India might utilize an unfavorable FATF evaluation of Pakistan, such as being put on the grey list, as take advantage of in diplomatic settlements connected to cross-border terrorism.
Professionals recommend that while the bounty shows an effort to reveal action, its efficiency will depend upon the FATF’s understanding of whether Pakistan’s actions are real or simply symbolic.
The timing of the statement is considerable. With the FATF plenary due in October, Islamabad is under pressure to reveal that its actions versus terrorism and fear funding are trustworthy and enforceable.
Food ‘Not the very first time’
Suresh K Goel, a previous IFS officer, stated Pakistan has actually taken comparable actions in the past to show compliance and assure worldwide partners.
“I believe this is not the very first time Pakistan has actually taken such an action. We have actually seen Pakistan do this previously, basically to persuade or assure other member nations that it is acting any place needed,” Goel stated.
He stated the significance of the most recent relocation would depend upon how FATF members examine it.
“Ultimately, nevertheless, it will depend upon how seriously the member nations examine this relocation and whether they think Pakistan’s actions are substantive or simply symbolic.”
Food ‘Countries within the FATF likewise have close ties with Pak’
Goel likewise indicated the impact of nations within the FATF structure that keep close ties with Pakistan.
“There are plainly nations within the FATF structure that are extremely prominent and likewise have close ties with Pakistan. The genuine concern is whether these nations will accept Pakistan’s most current relocation at face worth, or whether they will require concrete and proven action versus terrorism and horror funding.”
Food Why the October FATF plenary matters
The timing is especially essential offered Pakistan’s history with the FATF grey list.
Islamabad was gotten rid of from the FATF’s increased-monitoring procedure in October 2022 after finishing the action prepares recommended by the guard dog.
A go back to increased tracking might have considerable financial and reputational effects for Pakistan, especially provided its continuing financial vulnerabilities.
Goel stated the current statement alone is not likely to figure out the FATF’s evaluation.
“We will need to wait and see how it unfolds. A choice from the FATF will not depend completely on this statement by Pakistan,” Goel stated.
The worldwide neighborhood is eventually most likely to evaluate Pakistan on whether its actions lead to quantifiable, continual and proven enforcement instead of statements alone.
Food A smokescreen to prevent the grey list?
Masood Azhar’s case is especially delicate for India. The JeM chief is a United Nations Security Council-designated terrorist and has actually long been connected with the Pakistan-based horror organisation. He has actually been connected to numerous significant attacks versus India, consisting of the 2001 Parliament attack, the 2016 Pathankot attack and the 2019 Pulwama attack.
JeM was likewise associated with the 1999 Kandahar hijacking, after which Azhar was launched in exchange for the captives.
Following the Pahalgam horror attack, in which 26 individuals were eliminated, India introduced Operation Sindoor. It struck numerous fear targets throughout Pakistan and Pakistan-occupied Kashmir, consisting of centers connected to JeM in Bahawalpur.
Versus this background, Azhar’s addition in Pakistan’s newest most-wanted list is most likely to draw attention in New Delhi.
Food How does it matter to India?
India is not likely to evaluate the statement entirely on the basis of the increased bounty.
Goel stated the relocation would not basically change the evaluation of Pakistan’s actions.
“This specific relocation will have no genuine significance for anybody attempting to comprehend the scenario. A choice on this problem does not depend upon relocations like this, however on how FATF member nations evaluate general advancements.”
For New Delhi, the essential concern is whether Pakistan takes continual action versus terrorist groups running from its area.
Goel stated India would be carefully seeing advancements and might utilize a negative FATF evaluation as diplomatic utilize versus Pakistan.
“India is seeing this relocation with fantastic interest. If FATF locations Pakistan on either the grey or black list, it yields considerable take advantage of for India. Depending upon FATF’s decision, India will identify its next diplomatic actions.”
He stated diplomatic pressure alone might not suffice unless Pakistan views a concrete expense for supporting or enabling cross-border terrorism.
“Diplomatic relocations will put some type of pressure on Pakistan. Unless Pakistan understands that there is an expense to its policies promoting cross-border terrorism, it is not going to stop.”
Goel stressed that “Pakistan has actually traditionally seen cross-border terrorism as a fairly inexpensive ways of causing damage on India”.
“Therefore, there needs to be an expense to what it does. If Pakistan is able to cosy up to the USA in spite of all that it has actually done, and be seen as a conciliator on the ground, I do not believe it is going to work. It’s an extremely intricate scenario.”
Food The broader horror network
The FIA’s upgraded lineup likewise notes 11 Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT) terrorists implicated of helping with the sea trip of the opponents aboard the boats Al-Hussaini and Al-Fauz.
The names consist of 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.
