Jaish-e-Mohammed Launches Online ‘Jihadi Course’ for Women: Expanding Recruitment Strategies

In a worrying development, Pakistan-based terrorist organization Jaish-e-Mohammed (JeM) has launched an online course named Tufat al-Muminat to recruit women into its newly formed women’s wing, Jamaat-ul-Muminat. The program, set to begin on November 8, involves 40-minute daily online sessions conducted by JeM chief Masood Azhar’s sisters, Sadiya Azhar and Samaira Azhar. Participants are required to contribute 500 Pakistani rupees (around ₹500) as a registration donation to join the course. This initiative represents a significant shift in the group’s strategy, targeting women in a manner that aligns with evolving extremist tactics.

The development comes weeks after Masood Azhar (in pic), a UN-designated terrorist, announced the formation of the women’s wing Jamat ul-Muminat on October 8 at Markaz Usman-o-Ali in Bahawalpur. (File) | Hindustan Times

Leadership and Organizational Structure

The leadership of Jamaat-ul-Muminat is composed of female members closely associated with JeM’s senior hierarchy. Sadiya Azhar, the younger sister of Masood Azhar, has been appointed as the head of the unit, reflecting the organization’s intent to place trusted family members in key positions. Other notable figures include Safia Azhar, another sister of Masood Azhar, and Afreera Farooq, the widow of Pulwama attack conspirator Umar Farooq. This structure underlines JeM’s strategic approach to involve women in operational roles while maintaining close control through family leadership.

Course Content and Objectives

Tufat al-Muminat is designed to indoctrinate participants with religious and jihad-oriented teachings. The sessions, conducted by relatives of JeM leaders, aim to educate women about their roles and duties from the perspective of jihad and the organization’s ideological framework. The program is expected to prepare female recruits for involvement in JeM’s operations, ranging from propaganda to logistical support. By formalizing the training through an online platform, JeM can extend its recruitment reach beyond traditional geographical and social limitations.

Strategic Implications

The launch of this online course has raised significant concerns among intelligence and security agencies, particularly in India. By targeting women, JeM not only expands its operational base but also seeks to exploit gender-based societal norms that might allow female operatives to move under the radar of conventional security measures. The organization’s strategy mirrors the approaches of groups like ISIS, Boko Haram, and Hamas, which have successfully integrated women in combat, logistical, and propaganda roles. Intelligence assessments suggest that Masood Azhar and his brother Talha al-Saif have recently approved the inclusion of women in the group’s operational framework, signaling a departure from JeM’s previous restrictions on female participation in armed jihad.

Broader Context

The establishment of Jamaat-ul-Muminat reflects a broader trend among extremist organizations to mobilize women as strategic assets. Female recruits can play crucial roles in recruitment, propaganda, and operational activities, enhancing the resilience and adaptability of the organization. By creating an online course, JeM is not only circumventing physical restrictions faced by women in conservative societies but also potentially creating a new generation of radicalized female operatives. This approach indicates an alarming evolution in extremist recruitment and operational tactics, which intelligence agencies worldwide are closely monitoring.

The MGMM Outlook

The recent launch of Jaish-e-Mohammed’s online course, Tufat al-Muminat, targeting women marks a disturbing evolution in extremist strategies. By forming the women’s wing, Jamaat-ul-Muminat, and placing close family members of Masood Azhar in leadership roles, the organization is systematically expanding its operational reach. Women like Sadiya Azhar and Afreera Farooq are being positioned not just as participants but as propagators of the ideology, reflecting JeM’s intention to integrate female operatives into both logistical and radicalization roles. The requirement of a nominal registration fee and daily online sessions shows a calculated approach to formalize recruitment while circumventing physical and societal limitations.

This development signals a broader shift in extremist tactics, where women are increasingly viewed as strategic assets capable of recruitment, propaganda, and operational support. By leveraging online platforms, JeM is amplifying its influence beyond traditional geographical and societal constraints, potentially grooming a new generation of radicalized female operatives. Intelligence agencies must recognize the nuanced threat posed by this digital indoctrination, as it mirrors global trends of female participation in extremist networks while exploiting societal norms that may inadvertently shield such activities.

(Sources: Hindustan Times, Business Today, Moneycontrol)