JeM’s $23 Million Digital Hawala Scheme: How Pakistan Fuels Terror Camps While Evading FATF Watch | World News
İslamabad/New Delhi: In 2019, Pakistan implemented the national action plan to secure removal from the Gray list of Financial Action Mission Force (FATF). The government claimed a strict action against Jaish-e-Mohammed (JEM). Authorities, JEM center was under state control, he said. The head of the terror outfit, the head of the Masood Azhar, brother Rauf Asghar and young brother Talha Al Saif’in reported that the bank accounts were reported. Cash transactions, donations and donation collection channels were said to have been restricted. In 2022, Pakistan was officially removed from the Fatf Gray list.
Falsified compatibility
Despite the allegations, JEM and inter -service intelligence (heat) adopted new donation collection tactics. The first moved to digital wallets like Easypaisa and Sadapay. Instead of bank accounts, funds flowed into the family wallets of Masood Azhar. Pakistan continued to be sure that banking transactions have been stopped.
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After Sindoor Operation
On May 7, India’s Sindoor operation Eliminated Jem’s main center Market Subhanallah and four other training camps. Nevertheless, Pakistan announced financing for the reconstruction of these camps.
In Easypaisa, which aims to build 313 new centers, JEM launched an online donation collection campaign of 3.91 billion Pakistan RUPI (PKR).
Supporters published Masood Azhar’s videos, posters and letters on Facebook and WhatsApp channels. Each center was estimated to require 12.5 million PKR. The appeal targeted its supporters at Pakistan and abroad and searched a total of 3.91 billion PKR.
Operations and surveillance
The investigations revealed empty donation receipts of JEM’s campaign. The funds were distributed to multiple digital wallets. A Sadapay account was recorded to Talha Al Saif, connected to the JEM commander in Haripur, Aftab Ahmed.
Another Easypaisa wallet was ruled by Masood Azhar’s son Abdullah Azhar. More than 250 wallets were active in this donation collection driving.
Talha Al Saif’s voice recordings were released and called for supporters to contribute to 21,000 PKR per person and to direct the creation of 20 new centers this year. Posters and videos show the general goal of 313 center.
Centers as facades
These so -called religious centers serve as terrorist training areas and operational centers. Subhan Allah Marxaz, which India targeted, hosted arms training and terrorist accommodation. A few JEM members were killed during the operation.
Markaz Bilal (Muzaffarabad), Marxaz Abbas (Kotli), Marxim Tamim Dari (Khyber Pakhtunkhwa) and Karachi’s other JEM centers, including Marxaz Ifta, function as a center for education, propaganda, child incident and social media operations. Karachi centers consist of a 1.5 acres and coordinate JEM broadcasts and online activities.
Digital Hawala system
JEM operates more than 2,000 Easypaisa and Sadapay wallets. These funds support training centers and alleged Gaza aid campaigns. Wallets skip traditional banking networks that escape from FATF review.
The Azhar family passes through more than one wallet every 3-4 months. Large transfers are divided into smaller wallets and removed in cash in digital or offline. Annual transactions reach 8-9 billion PKR.
Funds support weapons, camping operations, luxury vehicles and family needs. A significant part of the Gulf countries is coming. Easypaisa functions as a digital Hawala network. The weekly mosque collections presented this as humanitarian aid.
Al Rahmat Trust from Jem rises about 100 million pks per year. Public objections clearly talk about donations for jihad.
Costs and allocation
JEM claims that the cost of a single center is 12.5 million PKR. In fact, the cost of smaller centers is 4-5 million PKR; Great centers such as Subhan Allah or Usman-O-Ali can reach 100 million PKR. The 313 -centered initiative would spend 1.23 billion PKR for construction, the rest of which was allocated to weapons and network expansion.
Objectives and Results
Analysts, the two main objectives behind JEM’s 313 centers: to reduce the influence of future Indian operations and to create a large network in Pakistan, similar to Lashkar-e-Taiba to reduce the influence of Masod Azhar and his family, and allow the reasonable denial of their existence.
The 3.91 billion PKR campaign can strengthen JEM’s operational and weapons supply chains and increase the threat profile for next decade.
