Reward of Rs 70 lakh on Masood Azhar in Pakistan's Red Book!

Pakistan's claims of action against terrorism are once again under question. Pakistan's Federal Investigation Agency (FIA) has declared Jaish-e-Mohammed chief Masood Azhar a fugitive in its new 'Red Book'. Not only this, the reward declared on his head has also been increased to 70 lakh Pakistani rupees. However, defense experts are considering this as another attempt by Pakistan to escape international surveillance.

It is noteworthy that this entire incident has come to light at a time when the full meeting of the Financial Action Task Force (FATF) is going to be held in October. In the past too, questions have been raised on Pakistan at the international level regarding terrorism financing and cross-border terrorism.

In such a situation, by showing action against terrorists, Pakistan is again trying to avoid surveillance and possible action. Pakistan's claim in the case of Masood Azhar has also been continuously questioned.

Pakistan has been saying since 2021 that Masood Azhar is not in its country and has fled to Afghanistan. In the same year, FIA had announced a reward of 50 lakh Pakistani rupees on his head. Now after five years, this reward has been increased to Rs 70 lakh. However, according to the technical analysis of the last six months by Indian intelligence agencies, Masood Azhar is hiding in Pakistan.

According to reports, he is actively hiding in Nawabshah city of Sindh province. In such a situation, serious questions are being raised about Pakistan's intentions in declaring him a fugitive only on paper and increasing the reward on his head.

FIA's new Red Book also includes the names of 19 terrorists associated with the 26/11 Mumbai terror attacks. These are the people who helped the terrorists reach Mumbai by sea route for the attack, provided them financial assistance or played a role in the management of the operation. Of these, the names of 17 terrorists along with their photographs and details of their role in the 26-11 attacks have been given. But in two cases Pakistan has omitted important information.

The names of Muhammad Khan and Abdul Rehman have been kept in the list, but their photographs, links to Lashkar-e-Taiba and information related to their role in the attack have been removed. Whereas the picture and full role of both were recorded in the FIA ​​list of the year 2021.

The Red Book also contains names of 11 terrorists associated with Lashkar-e-Taiba. They are accused of helping the Mumbai attack attackers in their sea journey through Al-Husseini and Al-Fawz boats. The list also contains the names of six terrorists who provided financial support for the 26-11 attacks. In these, Muhammad Iftikhar Ali is accused of spending 70 thousand Pakistani rupees in preparing VoIP contact for conversation between the attackers and their handlers.

Mohammad Zia had given Rs 80 thousand, Mohammad Abbas Nasir had given Rs 2 lakh 53 thousand, Javed Iqbal had given Rs 1 lakh 86 thousand 430 and Mukhtar Ahmed had given Rs 2 lakh 98 thousand 47. Ahmed Saeed is accused of giving Rs 21 lakh for the campaign.

According to FIA, these 17 terrorists associated with 26/11 attacks are absconding for the last 18 years. But Indian intelligence sources claim that all of them are still present in Pakistan. In such a situation, inclusion of terrorists in the most wanted list is being said to be an attempt to avoid international pressure rather than actual action.

The number of most wanted terrorists included in Pakistan's Red Book has also increased significantly in the last five years. In the year 2021, this number was 1,330, which has now increased to 1,804. That means there has been an increase of about 35 percent during this period. Pakistan's new list of terrorists raises many serious questions.

Defense experts believe that listing the names of terrorists will be considered an effective action only when there is actual investigation, arrest and legal action against them. Merely announcing a reward and adding the name to the most wanted list does not prove Pakistan's commitment against terrorism.