In digital jihad push, Jaish targets women recruits, has intel on alert

In a chilling new development that marks a dangerous evolution in Pakistan-based terror group Jaish-e-Mohammed’s strategy, the outfit has launched an online religious training programme aimed at recruiting women into its newly formed female brigade, Jamat ul-Muminat.

The development has raised concerns among Indian intelligence agencies, who view it as a potential escalation in Jaish’s recruitment and radicalisation strategy.

Intelligence sources told The Tribune that the UN-designated terrorist organisation had announced an online course titled Tufat al-Muminat (gift to the believers), under which it plans to indoctrinate and mobilise women through daily virtual lectures beginning November 8.

According to intelligence inputs, the course will be conducted by Jaish chief Masood Azhar’s sisters — Sadiya Azhar and Samaira Azhar — and Afreera Farooq, wife of slain Pulwama attack conspirator Umar Farooq. The 40-minute sessions will be hosted on online meeting platforms, targeting women across Pakistan and Pakistan-occupied Kashmir (PoK).

“Each participant is being asked to pay a ‘donation’ of 500 Pakistani rupees and submit personal details through an online form, purportedly to register for the course. We believe this payment serves as a covert fundraising mechanism for the banned outfit, which continues to operate freely under the patronage of Pakistan’s security establishment,” an intel officer said.

The revelations come weeks after Masood Azhar formally announced the creation of Jaish’s all-women wing, Jamat ul-Muminat, on October 8, followed by a women’s outreach event titled Dukhtaran-e-Islam held in Rawalakot, PoK, on October 19.

The Tufat al-Muminat course, sources said, was part of a broader attempt by Jaish to expand its terror infrastructure by exploiting online platforms and social media to radicalise women, a tactic reminiscent of global jihadist groups like ISIS and Hamas.

Intelligence officials warned that the initiative could be a precursor to the creation of female fidayeen (suicide) squads.