Masood Azhar announces formation of JeM women’s brigade ‘Jamaat-ul-Mominaat’

October 9, 2025

New Delhi: In a major shift in strategy, Pakistan-based terror organization Jaish-e-Mohammed (JeM) has announced the formation of its first-ever women’s wing, named “Jamaat-ul-Mominaat”, sources told IANS.

The announcement was made through a letter issued under the name of JeM chief and UN-designated terrorist Maulana Masood Azhar. Recruitment for this newly created unit commenced at Markaz Usman-o-Ali in Bahawalpur, Pakistan, on October 8.

Notably, during Operation Sindoor, Indian Security Forces targeted the headquarters of JeM in Bahawalpur, southern Punjab.
Last month, JeM commander Ilyas Kashmiri, in a video, claimed that the attack killed members of Masood Azhar’s family.

Leadership of the Women’s Brigade

According to JeM’s propaganda outlet Al-Qalam Media, the women’s brigade will be led by Sadiya Azhar, sister of Masood Azhar. Her husband, Yusuf Azhar, was killed during Operation Sindoor on May 7 when Indian forces struck JeM’s headquarters at Markaz Subhanallah.

Sources reveal the outfit has begun enlisting wives of its commanders as well as economically vulnerable women studying at its centers in Bahawalpur, Karachi, Muzaffarabad, Kotli, Haripur, and Mansehra.

A Strategic Shift in JeM’s Doctrine

Traditionally, the Deobandi-rooted group had barred women from participating in armed jihad or combat roles. However, following the Pahalgam terror attack and Operation Sindoor, JeM leadership — including Masood Azhar and his brother Talha al-Saif — has revised its stance.
Intelligence inputs suggest the move signals JeM’s intent to deploy female suicide bombers in future terror missions.

In the aftermath of Operation Sindoor, JeM, along with Hizbul Mujahideen (HM) and Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT), has relocated to Pakistan’s volatile Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KPK) province. Pakistan is now attempting to rebuild these terror infrastructures and soliciting donations from the public.

Online Fundraising Campaign

As reported by IANS earlier in August, JeM has also launched an online fundraising drive via EasyPaisa, aiming to collect Rs 3.91 billion for constructing 313 new markaz across Pakistan.