New Delhi – Indian security agencies have flagged a new strategy by the Jaish-e-Mohammad (JeM) terror outfit to build a women-dominated overground worker (OWG) network in Jammu and Kashmir, with recruitment efforts extending beyond Pakistan into the Valley.
According to officials, Jamaat-ul-Muminat (JuM), the women’s wing of JeM, was launched after Operation Sindoor. While the terror group has previously attempted to create female units, this time the focus is not limited to women in Pakistan but also includes women from Jammu and Kashmir.
In the aftermath of the Pahalgam attack, Indian security forces launched a comprehensive crackdown on Pakistan-backed terror networks. Along with destroying terror infrastructure, a large number of OWGs were arrested, dealing a significant blow to JeM’s support system in the Valley.
Officials said JeM is now attempting to rebuild its network. While recruitment drives are already underway in Pakistan, the outfit is actively planning to enlist women from Jammu and Kashmir to form a female OWG network.
An official said women recruits in Pakistan are being instructed during online training sessions to identify and scout women in the Valley. The objective, the outfit believes, is to rebuild its OWG structure in Jammu and Kashmir, preferably with a majority of women.
An Intelligence Bureau (IB) official said the strategy is aimed at evading detection, as women are generally subjected to less scrutiny by security agencies. Additionally, assessments suggest that women recruits tend to display greater loyalty to the organisation’s ideology.
In the Valley, the primary targets for recruitment are likely to be the wives, sisters, and close relatives of slain terrorists. Officials said this mirrors the recruitment strategy adopted in Pakistan during the formation of JuM.
The JuM is currently led by Sadiya Azhar, sister of JeM chief Masood Azhar and widow of Yusuf Azhar, who was killed in Bahawalpur during Operation Sindoor. Several other women who lost their husbands during the operation are also reported to be part of the group. Recruitment activities are ongoing in areas such as Bahawalpur, Karachi, Kotli, Haripur, Mansehra, and Muzaffarabad.
When asked whether recruitment of women from Jammu and Kashmir has already begun, an official said the plan has been set in motion, though the current focus remains on Pakistan-based cadres. “It is only a matter of time before the recruitment drive in the Valley begins,” the official said.
IB sources said the recruitment of women from Jammu and Kashmir is frequently discussed during online training sessions, and newly recruited women are tasked with identifying potential candidates in the Valley.
The role of women OWGs is expected to be multi-faceted. They would be responsible for logistics, providing shelter and support to terrorists, gathering intelligence, and ensuring operational security. Officials said honey-trapping tactics may also be employed to extract sensitive information.
Given JeM’s current financial constraints, women OWGs could also be tasked with raising funds. They may be used to transport weapons, money, SIM cards, and other materials required for terror operations.
IB officials warned that JeM could find some traction in the Valley based on past patterns. Earlier, JeM cadres entering Kashmir often stayed with local families and were known to project respectful behaviour towards women, which helped build trust. Some women were also reportedly drawn to the outfit due to its religious positioning.
A similar attempt to recruit women was made after the abrogation of Article 370. However, a sustained security offensive at the time dismantled the OWG networks of several terror groups. While that recruitment drive had limited success, officials believe JeM and JuM are likely to make a far more aggressive push this time.
With inputs from IANS