5,000 women recruited for suicide missions: Jaish-e-Mohammad chief
What's the story
The terror outfit Jaish-e-Mohammed (JeM) has reportedly recruited over 5,000 women in its newly formed women's wing, Jamaat ul Mominaat. They are reportedly being trained for suicide missions and subjected to indoctrination. The recruitment drive was launched on October 8 at JeM's headquarters, Markaz Usman-o-Ali, NDTV reported, citing sources. The women were recruited from various regions of Pakistan, including Bahawalpur, Multan, Karachi, Sialkot, Muzaffarabad, and Kotli.
Expansion plans
JeM's women wing aims for district-level expansion
In a post on social media, JeM chief Masood Azhar allegedly expressed pride that 5,000 women have joined in a very short time. "It is Allah's grace that within...few weeks, more than 5,000 women have joined. Many sisters have said that as soon as they were recruited, their state of mind changed and they realized the goal of life," he said. "District units will be formed, every district will have a muntazima (manager), and work will be distributed," Azhar added.
Training details
Online training and recruitment fee for new members
The recruitment drive is part of an effort to radicalize these women and train them for fidayeen attacks similar to those carried out by groups like ISIS and Hamas. The women are reportedly being trained online through 40-minute classes, with each participant paying a fee of ₹500. Azhar's sister Sadia leads Jamaat ul Mominaat, while Afira, wife of Pulwama attack mastermind Umar Farooq, is another prominent figure in the wing.
Training course
JeM's new training course for women recruits
When the women's wing was first announced, Azhar said that women will undergo an induction course called "Daura-e-Taskiya," similar to the 15-day "Daura-e-Tarbiat" course for male recruits. Strict rules were imposed, including a ban on speaking to unrelated men, except their husbands or family members. The wing gained attention following the car explosion in Delhi last month that claimed 13 lives. Among the suspects arrested was Dr. Shaheen Saeed, who was reportedly the head of the women wing in India.