JeM Forms Women’s Wing ‘Jamaat-ul-Mominaat’ Under Masood Azhar’s Sister

In a change from its usual strategy, Pakistan-based terrorist group Jaish-e-Mohammed (JeM) has announced the creation of a women’s wing named “Jamaat-ul-Mominaat.” The development was made public through a letter issued in the name of JeM chief Maulana Masood Azhar, a UN-designated global terrorist. Recruitment for the wing began on October 8, 2025, at Markaz Usman-o-Ali in Bahawalpur, Punjab.

According to Indian intelligence sources and materials published by JeM’s propaganda outlet Al-Qalam Media, the new unit will be headed by Sadiya Azhar, the sister of Masood Azhar. Sadiya is also the widow of Yusuf Azhar, who was killed during Operation Sindoor—an Indian military operation carried out on May 7 against JeM’s headquarters at Markaz Subhanallah inside Pakistani territory.

Women Recruited from Seminaries and Families of Cadres

Sources indicate that the group is targeting women from economically weaker backgrounds, especially those studying at religious seminaries in Bahawalpur, Karachi, Muzaffarabad, Kotli, Haripur, and Mansehra. The outfit has also begun enlisting wives and relatives of existing and former JeM commanders.

A recruitment circular issued by the group contains religious motifs and images of Islamic holy sites such as Mecca and Medina. It appeals emotionally to potential recruits by invoking religious duty and martyrdom, a strategy aimed at attracting educated, urban Muslim women.

Tactical Shift May Involve Suicide Operations

JeM has traditionally barred women from taking part in combat or armed jihad. However, after suffering recent losses, including the death of key operatives in Operation Sindoor, the group appears to be shifting its operational approach. Sources say the decision to involve women in its activities was jointly approved by Masood Azhar and his brother, Talha al-Saif, a senior JeM strategist.

Officials warn that the creation of a women’s wing may pave the way for using female suicide bombers, a tactic seen in groups such as ISIS, Boko Haram, Hamas, and the LTTE. Indian security agencies believe JeM may try to exploit gender-based security gaps for future attacks.

An intelligence official monitoring the situation noted: “This move allows the group to access new areas of recruitment and possibly expand its reach into urban and under-surveilled regions.”

Focus on Expanding Reach into India

Indian agencies are on alert for signs of the new brigade’s influence extending across the border. Early assessments suggest that the women’s wing may attempt to recruit sympathisers in Jammu and Kashmir, Uttar Pradesh, and southern India through encrypted messaging apps and social media networks.

The development comes in the wake of sustained Indian counter-terror operations and growing pressure on Pakistan to act against terror groups operating from its soil. JeM has been linked to several high-profile terror attacks in India, including the 2001 Parliament attack and the 2019 Pulwama suicide bombing.

Masood Azhar himself was released in 1999 in exchange for hostages during the hijacking of Indian Airlines flight IC-814 and remains a fugitive. Following Operation Sindoor, he claimed that multiple members of his extended family, including his elder sister, her husband (Yusuf Azhar), and several others, were killed in the Indian airstrike.

Team BharatShakti