Jaish‑e‑Mohammed Launches Covert Fundraiser to Rebuild Bahawalpur Headquarters After Operation Sindoor

Nearly three months after the Indian Air Force carried out Operation Sindoor, striking deep inside Pakistan to dismantle terrorist infrastructure, the Jaish‑e‑Mohammed (JeM) has begun quietly mobilising resources to rebuild its devastated headquarters in Bahawalpur. The organisation, proscribed as a terrorist outfit by the United Nations and multiple countries, is now seeking discreet financial assistance from sympathisers to restore what was once its primary ideological and operational hub.

The Indian military hit 9 terrorist bases across Pakistan and PoK (Image via India Today) | OpIndia

The Devastation of Operation Sindoor

In the early hours of May 6–7, 2025, the Indian military launched one of its most significant cross‑border strikes in recent years. Operation Sindoor targeted nine high‑value terror facilities in Pakistan and Pakistan‑occupied Kashmir, including JeM’s headquarters in Bahawalpur and Lashkar‑e‑Taiba’s complex in Muridke. The Bahawalpur strike was particularly severe, levelling the sprawling compound known as Jamia Masjid Subhan Allah.

Indian intelligence reported the elimination of around 100 militants during the operation, including senior figures like Maulana Yusuf Azhar, a close associate of JeM chief Masood Azhar and a mastermind behind the 1999 IC‑814 hijacking. Satellite imagery later confirmed the extent of destruction — collapsed structures, damaged mosque domes, and debris scattered across the once‑fortified grounds. Masood Azhar himself admitted that ten members of his family, including his elder sister, her husband, nephews, nieces, and four of his aides, had been killed in the attack.

The Fundraising Drive

In late July, JeM began circulating Urdu‑language posts on social media platforms appealing to its supporters for contributions to rebuild the Bahawalpur base. The campaign was deliberately crafted to avoid direct fundraising language, instead urging sympathisers to “participate in a noble cause” and make donations discreetly. This careful messaging is seen as an attempt to evade monitoring by Pakistani authorities and international intelligence agencies.

Analysts believe this approach may also reflect a shift in JeM’s financing strategy. For decades, the group enjoyed covert patronage from Pakistan’s establishment, particularly the ISI. However, amid heightened international scrutiny, there are signs that JeM may now be relying more on grassroots and diaspora funding to sustain its operations.

Pakistan’s Role and Reconstruction Efforts

Reports indicate that within 90 days of Operation Sindoor, more than 15 terrorist camps and launch pads in Pakistan‑occupied Kashmir had been rebuilt, allegedly with the active support of the ISI. These reconstructed facilities have been modified to evade detection, using dispersed layouts, radar‑evading designs, and drone deployment for logistical support.

In Bahawalpur and Muridke, Pakistani authorities are believed to be facilitating the revival of damaged infrastructure, despite global concerns. Some intelligence inputs suggest that funds earmarked for civilian purposes, including international aid, may be diverted toward these reconstruction projects. In the case of JeM, it is reported that Pakistan’s government has promised financial relief to the families of those killed in the strikes, including a significant payout to Masood Azhar’s relatives.

Implications for Regional Security

The restoration of JeM’s Bahawalpur headquarters would mark a significant symbolic and operational milestone for the group. It has historically served as the epicentre for militant recruitment, religious indoctrination, and combat training across southern Punjab. A functional base would enable JeM to resume these activities at full scale, potentially escalating the threat in Jammu and Kashmir and other parts of India.

Moreover, the quiet yet determined nature of the fundraising campaign underlines the adaptability of such organisations. Even after severe military setbacks, groups like JeM demonstrate the ability to reconstitute themselves, aided by entrenched support networks within Pakistan and sympathetic circles abroad.

Conclusion

Jaish‑e‑Mohammed’s attempt to rebuild its Bahawalpur base so soon after Operation Sindoor is both a testament to its resilience and a stark warning to the international community. While India’s strikes delivered a major blow to the group’s infrastructure, the rapid recovery efforts highlight the challenges of permanently dismantling such networks when they operate with tacit state backing.

As reconstruction proceeds—whether through covert state assistance, public fundraising, or a combination of both—the threat posed by JeM remains far from neutralised. The coming months will reveal whether diplomatic pressure and sustained vigilance can prevent the revival of this notorious hub of militancy.

(Sources: NDTV, OpIndia, India Today)