In a disturbing development, the Pakistan-based terrorist outfit Jaish-e-Mohammed (JeM) has launched a women’s jihadist wing named “Jamaat-ul-Mominat.” The move was revealed through a 21-minute audio message by the group’s chief, Maulana Masood Azhar, reportedly released from Markaz Usman O Ali in Bahawalpur, JeM’s main headquarters. The recording outlines the recruitment strategy, training modules, and radical indoctrination plans for women.

New Jihad Training for Women

According to the audio, women recruits will undergo a two-stage training program modeled on the men’s 15-day Daura-e-Tarbiyat course. The women’s version, “Daura-e-Tasqia,” will focus on spiritual purification, followed by “Daura-Ayat-ul-Nisa,” where they will be taught “how women can wage jihad as per Islamic scriptures.” Azhar claimed that women who join Jamaat-ul-Mominat “will attain paradise after death.”

Strict Hierarchy and Rules

Azhar announced that each district in Pakistan will have a branch of Jamaat-ul-Mominat, headed by a District Muntazima (local commander). The recruits will be barred from speaking to or messaging any non-mahram (unrelated) men.

Azhar’s Sisters Leading the Wing

Investigations indicate that Azhar’s sister, Sadia Azhar, has been appointed as the head of the women’s unit. His other sisters—Sameera Azhar (Umme Masood) and Afira Farooq, widow of Pulwama attacker Umar Farooq—are part of the core leadership. They have been organizing online radicalization classes since October 25, targeting 45 women whose husbands or relatives were killed in encounters with Indian security forces. These sessions are being conducted under a propaganda initiative called “Shoba-e-Dawat.”

Emotional Reference to ‘Operation Sindoor’

Azhar also invoked India’s Operation Sindoor, during which his sister Hawa Bibi and 13 other family members were killed, including Yusuf Azhar, Jameel Ahmed, Hamza Jameel, and Huwaifa Azhar. He said the concept of a women’s jihad wing originated from his discussions with Hawa Bibi before her death.

Pakistan’s Double Standards Exposed

Although Pakistan officially bans JeM, the creation of Jamaat-ul-Mominat underscores Islamabad’s continued covert support for terrorist organizations operating from its soil. Security experts warn that the move represents a new phase in JeM’s terror strategy, where women are being weaponized and radicalized under the guise of faith.