Terror outfit launches Jamaat-ul-Mominaat, marking first inclusion of women in its ranks

Pakistan-based terror group Jaish-e-Mohammed (JeM) has announced the formation of its first women’s wing, Jamaat-ul-Mominaat, signaling a major shift in the group’s recruitment strategy. The unit will reportedly be led by Sadiya Azhar, sister of JeM chief and UN-designated terrorist Maulana Masood Azhar.

Recruitment drive begins in Bahawalpur

According to JeM’s propaganda outlet Al-Qalam Media, recruitment for Jamaat-ul-Mominaat began on October 8 at Markaz Usman-o-Ali in Bahawalpur, the group’s traditional stronghold. The recruitment reportedly targets the wives of JeM commanders and economically vulnerable women enrolled at JeM-run institutions in Bahawalpur, Karachi, Muzaffarabad, Kotli, Haripur, and Mansehra.

Sources cited by WION said the wing’s formation was approved by Masood Azhar and his brother Talha al-Saif, integrating women into the outfit’s operational framework for the first time.

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Led by Sadiya Azhar after husband’s death in Operation Sindoor

Sadiya Azhar’s husband, Yusuf Azhar, was killed during Operation Sindoor on May 7, when Indian forces struck JeM’s Markaz Subhanallah base. The attack, which targeted JeM’s southern Punjab command center, also resulted in the deaths of several members of Masood Azhar’s family, according to JeM commander Ilyas Kashmiri.

The creation of the women’s wing follows a series of military setbacks for JeM, including the Pahalgam terror attack and the Operation Sindoor strikes, which significantly weakened the group’s infrastructure.

Strategic shift after major losses

Traditionally, JeM — a Deobandi-rooted terror organisation — has barred women from combat or jihadist roles. The establishment of Jamaat-ul-Mominaat indicates a policy reversal, likely aimed at rebuilding the group’s cadre base and expanding recruitment networks after heavy losses.

Intelligence sources suggest that JeM, along with other Pakistan-based outfits such as Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT) and Hizbul Mujahideen (HM), has recently shifted operations to Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KPK) province. Handlers are reportedly appealing for public donations to fund rebuilding efforts.

Global precedent for female extremist units

While groups like ISIS, Boko Haram, Hamas, and the LTTE have historically deployed women in combat or suicide operations, this move marks a first for JeM. Security experts believe the decision reflects the group’s desperation to regain influence and adapt to changing operational realities following sustained counterterrorism pressure.