Despite India’s devastating Operation Sindoor in May, terror mastermind Masood Azhar and his Jaish-e-Mohammed group are orchestrating an audacious comeback through digital financing and state protection from Pakistan.
Operation Sindoor’s Impact
On 7 May, the Indian Air Force conducted precision strikes deep into Pakistan, obliterating JeM’s Markaz Subhanallah headquarters in Bahawalpur and four other terror camps. The operation targeted the same complex where Pulwama and Pahalgam attackers were trained, killing at least 14 terrorists including Azhar’s relatives and senior commanders.
The strikes flattened training facilities at Markaz Bilal, Markaz Abbas, Mahmona Joya and Sargal, delivering what New Delhi hoped would be a decisive blow against the terror network. However, rather than dismantling JeM, the operation has merely forced the group to adapt and evolve.
Digital Jihad Revolution
JeM has abandoned traditional cash courier systems in favour of sophisticated digital financing. Following FATF pressure that led Pakistan to claim it froze JeM assets in 2019, the ISI has shifted tactics entirely. Donations now flow directly into mobile wallets operated by Azhar’s family, including his son Abdullah and brother Talha Al Saif, alongside commanders like Syed Safdar Shah.
Intelligence sources reveal at least 250 wallets are currently linked to JeM’s fundraising campaign, with over 2,000 in rotation nationwide. The wallets are swapped every few months, with funds broken into smaller amounts and moved frequently to evade detection by FATF’s SWIFT monitoring system.
Ambitious Reconstruction Plans
The terror group has launched an unprecedented PKR 3.91 billion fundraising campaign to establish 313 new camps across Pakistan. Each facility, marketed as a “markaz” through propaganda on Facebook and WhatsApp, carries a price tag of PKR 12.5 million. Azhar’s personal letters urge supporters to donate PKR 21,000 towards this massive expansion.
Intelligence agencies suspect many camps will cost significantly less, around PKR 4-5 million, leaving substantial surplus funds for weapons procurement. The network plans to use these facilities as combined safehouses, training grounds and weapons depots, representing a complete decentralisation of JeM’s operations.
Weapons and Technology Upgrades
Approximately half of JeM’s funding is allocated to weapons purchases on the black market, with ISI approval. Beyond traditional firearms, rocket launchers and mortars, intelligence sources fear the group is advancing towards drones and quadcopters, learning from allies like Hamas and the Tehrik-i-Taliban Pakistan.
American Complicity Questions
Despite possessing satellite intelligence on JeM’s Bahawalpur headquarters for years, Washington has chosen diplomatic balance over accountability. Following Operation Sindoor, the United States engaged equally with India and Pakistan without condemning Islamabad for harbouring Azhar.
The situation echoes the Osama bin Laden scenario, where Pakistan claimed ignorance whilst the world’s most wanted terrorist lived near their military academy. Pakistan’s Defence Minister Khwaja Asif recently admitted on Sky News that Pakistan has backed terror groups for decades, calling it “dirty work” done for Western powers.
FATF’s Failed Oversight
Pakistan’s removal from FATF’s grey list in 2022 after banning cash donations appears increasingly meaningless. Videos from Khyber Pakhtunkhwa show militants openly collecting funds after Friday prayers, whilst investigators trace digital wallets directly to Azhar’s family network.
The UN-designated global terrorist continues issuing audio messages and planning attacks whilst Pakistan maintains its facade of ignorance. Unless international pressure intensifies and digital financing loopholes close, JeM’s 313-camp vision may become a terrifying reality, ensuring the group’s survival and expansion across the region.
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