India dismisses Pakistan's latest move on Masood Azhar bounty as 'gimmick'

New Delhi has responded with skepticism to Pakistan's latest statement on Masood Azhar, characterizing the announcement as lacking substance. Officials view the move as a cosmetic gesture rather than genuine action against the terror leader, who continues to operate from Pakistani territory despite international scrutiny.

Azhar, founder and chief of the Jaish-e-Mohammad terror outfit, stands accused of orchestrating or directing some of India's deadliest militant attacks. These include the 2001 Parliament House assault that nearly triggered a military confrontation, the 2008 Mumbai bombings that killed over 160 people, the 2016 Pathankot airbase strike, and the 2019 Pulwama attack that claimed the lives of over 40 security personnel.

India has long pressed Pakistan to take concrete action against Azhar and other terror leaders sheltered within its borders. The repeated assertions by Pakistani authorities that they will act against designated terrorists have been met with cynicism in New Delhi, given the persistent gap between announcements and actual accountability.

The latest development underscores the continuing tension between the two nations over terrorism-related issues. India maintains that Pakistan harbors terror groups and their leadership, a charge Islamabad has periodically denied while making selective moves on militants under international pressure.