‘Jamaat-ul-Mominaat’: Jaish Announces First Women’s Unit, To Be Led By Masood Azhar’s Sister | World News
Months after India’s Operation Sindoor, Jaish-e-Mohammad (JeM) is reportedly trying to revive its operations with the help of elements within the Pakistan Army and government. The counter-terrorism operation targeting JeM’s Bahawalpur headquarters resulted in the death of several family members of JeM chief Maulana Masood Azhar, including his close relatives.
Establishment of an All-Women Brigade
In a significant change in strategy, JeM announced the formation of its first women’s brigade called “Jamaat-ul-Muminat”. This marks a major departure from the group’s long-standing practice of excluding women from direct participation in armed activities.
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The decision was announced in a letter attributed to Maulana Masood Azhar, a terrorist designated by the UN, stating that recruitment for the new contingent began on October 8, 2025, at Markaz Usman-o-Ali in Bahawalpur, Pakistan.
Also Read: Jaish Leader’s BIG Confession on Success of Operation Sindoor Reveals Masood Azhar’s Family Destroyed in Attack
JeM’s Reaction to Operation Sindoor
Last month, JeM commander Ilyas Kashmiri released a video confirming that Operation Sindoor had killed several members of Azhar’s family. During the operation, Indian forces struck JeM’s headquarters in southern Punjab, dealing a significant blow to the group’s leadership and infrastructure.
Leadership and Recruitment Movement
According to intelligence reports, the women’s brigade will be led by Masoud Azhar’s sister, Sadiya Azhar. Her husband Yousuf Azhar was killed during the Indian attack on JeM’s Markaz Subhanallah base on May 7.
Sources indicate that the outfit has started recruiting economically vulnerable women and wives of JeM commanders studying at JeM-affiliated religious centers in Bahawalpur, Karachi, Muzaffarabad, Kotli, Haripur and Mansehra.
Strategic Change in JeM’s Ideology
JeM, traditionally based on Deobandi ideology, had long banned women from taking part in jihad or combat operations. However, after the Pahalgam terror attack and Operation Sindoor, the group appears to have re-evaluated its approach.
Intelligence inputs indicate that Masood Azhar and his brother Talha al-Saif jointly approved the formation of this special women’s unit that would integrate women into the larger operational framework of the JeM.
The Global Model of Women’s Militancy
While organizations such as ISIS, Boko Haram, Hamas and LTTE have previously deployed women in suicide missions, groups such as JeM, Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT) and Hizbul Mujahideen (HM) have historically avoided such tactics. Analysts now believe that JeM’s new initiative could signal its intention to train and deploy women suicide bombers in future operations.
Rebuilding the Terror Infrastructure
Following Operation Sindoor, JeM, along with HM and LeT, reportedly moved their bases to Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KPK) in northwestern Pakistan.
It is reportedly supporting Pakistani fundraising efforts in a bid to rebuild the destroyed network. According to an IANS report in August, JeM has launched an online fundraising campaign through EasyPaisa, aiming to raise Rs 3.91 billion to build 313 new marjas (centres) across Pakistan.
