Masood Azhar’s Sister to Head JeM’s New Jamaat-ul-Mominaat - Husband Killed in Operation Sindoor?

Jaish-e-Mohammed (JeM), a terrorist group based in Pakistan, has initiated its first women's division, named Jamaat-ul-Mominaat. This new wing is led by Sadiya Azhar, the sister of JeM's chief, Maulana Masood Azhar. Recruitment for this unit began on October 8 at Markaz Usman-o-Ali in Bahawalpur, Pakistan.

According to a letter from JeM's propaganda outlet Al-Qalam Media, Jamaat-ul-Mominaat will serve as the female brigade of the organisation. The recruitment drive is reportedly targeting wives of JeM commanders and economically disadvantaged women studying at JeM centres in various Pakistani cities such as Bahawalpur, Karachi, Muzaffarabad, Kotli, Haripur, and Mansehra.

Shift in Policy

Traditionally, JeM had prohibited women from participating in armed jihad or combat roles. However, following the Pahalgam terror attack and Operation Sindoor, the group seems to have changed its stance. Intelligence reports suggest that Masood Azhar and his brother Talha al-Saif jointly approved the inclusion of women in JeM's operational framework.

The Indian military had previously targeted JeM's headquarters in Bahawalpur during Operation Sindoor. In a video released last month, JeM commander Ilyas Kashmiri claimed that several members of Masood Azhar's family were killed during this strike.

Comparisons with Other Groups

While organisations like ISIS, Boko Haram, Hamas, and LTTE have used female suicide bombers historically, groups such as JeM, Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT), and Hizbul Mujahideen (HM) had largely refrained from this practice. However, after Operation Sindoor, these groups have reportedly relocated to Pakistan's Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province.

In an effort to rebuild their damaged infrastructure post-Operation Sindoor, handlers based in Pakistan are reportedly seeking public donations. This move comes amidst shifting strategies among terror organisations operating within the region.