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Masood Azhar’s sisters are now leading online “jihad” classes for women under Jaish-e-Mohammed’s new course. A secretive digital drive, donations, and suicide training- is Pakistan silently nurturing a new wave of female terror recruits?
The course to begin on November 8.
New Delhi: In a worrying development, Pakistan-based terror organisation Jaish-e-Mohammed (JeM) has launched an online indoctrination and recruitment programme aimed at women, under the banner of its new course titled ‘Tufat al-Muminat’ (Gift for Believers).
The course, which begins on November 8, is designed to recruit women into JeM’s newly established women’s wing ‘Jamat ul-Muminat’ and to raise funds under the guise of religious education.
According to the report by India TV, the training course is being spearheaded by members of Masood Azhar’s own family, including his sisters. The initiative marks an alarming evolution in JeM’s tactics, mirroring global terror outfits like ISIS and Hamas, which have used online propaganda to mobilise female operatives for extremist missions.
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The online sessions under ‘Tufat al-Muminat’ will reportedly be conducted by Sadiya Azhar and Samaira Azhar, sisters of JeM chief Masood Azhar. Each session will last 40 minutes daily, where women will be “educated” on their religious duties from the perspective of jihad and Islam.
The modules, according to intelligence inputs, are designed to brainwash women using distorted interpretations of Islamic teachings, ultimately preparing them to take active roles in extremist and militant activities.
The initiative, officials say, signifies an attempt by the Jaish leadership to expand its influence among women, using family networks and online platforms to avoid detection and surveillance by global intelligence agencies.
The group has also begun collecting a “donation” of 500 Pakistani Rupees (PKR) from every woman enrolling in the course. Recruits are being asked to fill out an online information form, providing personal and family details.
Jaish-e-Muhammad chief Masood Azhar
This fundraising mechanism blatantly violates Financial Action Task Force (FATF) norms, which Pakistan claims to be implementing to curb terror financing. Experts note that despite Islamabad’s repeated assurances to the global community, terror outfits continue to operate freely, raising funds and recruiting members openly under the guise of religious or educational activities.
“Such organised online courses show how Pakistan-based terror groups have adapted to modern tools of indoctrination while the state turns a blind eye,” a senior Indian security analyst commented.
JeM’s efforts to build a female cadre were first revealed on October 8, when Masood Azhar announced the formation of ‘Jamat ul-Muminat’, the women’s brigade of Jaish-e-Mohammed. Later, on October 19, the outfit held a recruitment event titled ‘Dukhtaran-e-Islam’ in Rawalakot, Pakistan-occupied Kashmir (PoK), targeting women to join the terror group.
Sources suggest that since extremist social norms in Pakistan restrict women’s mobility, Jaish is now leveraging digital platforms to reach and radicalise potential female members, encouraging them to take part in “jihad” and even suicide attacks.
This model is believed to be inspired by ISIS and LTTE, both of which deployed women in suicide missions and propaganda campaigns. JeM appears to be replicating these methods to sustain its militant infrastructure amid increased international pressure.
Masood Azhar has reportedly appointed his younger sister Sadiya Azhar as the commander of ‘Jamat ul-Muminat’. Sadiya’s husband, Yusuf Azhar, was killed during Operation Sindoor, a counter-terror operation by Indian security forces.
Additionally, JeM’s internal Shura (decision-making body) now includes Safia and Afreera Farooq, Azhar’s younger sisters. Afreera is the widow of Umar Farooq, the JeM terrorist responsible for the Pulwama terror attack (2019) that killed 40 CRPF personnel. Umar Farooq was later neutralised by Indian forces.
By involving his family members, Azhar appears to be consolidating control over the group’s leadership while ensuring ideological loyalty and secrecy within its expanding structure.
This revelation once again exposes Pakistan’s duplicity in dealing with terror networks. While Islamabad claims to curb terror financing to stay off the FATF grey list, groups like JeM continue to operate digital recruitment and funding networks openly.
Intelligence agencies believe this online course is part of a broader strategy to rebuild Jaish’s operational strength after repeated setbacks and leadership losses in India and Afghanistan.
As ‘Tufat al-Muminat’ goes live next month, security agencies are keeping a close watch on cross-border digital activities, warning that women radicalised through such platforms could be used for suicide bombings, espionage, or online propaganda warfare against India.
