Following India’s Operation Sindhoor, which successfully targeted and destroyed at least nine terrorist hideouts in Pakistan-occupied Kashmir (POK), intelligence sources have revealed a significant shift in the operational strategies of Pakistan-based terrorist organisations Jaish-e-Mohammed and Hizbul Mujahideen. These groups, long active in the region, have relocated their primary bases deeper into Pakistani territory, specifically to Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KPK).
This strategic relocation is seen as a direct response to increased pressure and surveillance following Operation Sindhoor. By moving their operations further inland, the groups aim to evade detection and continue their activities, potentially using the proximity to Afghanistan to their advantage. Intelligence suggests the move is facilitated by Pakistan’s security establishment, highlighting the continued support network provided to these banned organisations.
Further evidence of this regrouping comes from a rally held by Jaish-e-Mohammed on 14th September in Manshera, KPK. Disguised as a religious gathering, the event was primarily focused on recruitment. The rally received support from Jamaat-ul-Ulema-e-Islam, a significant indication of the group’s access to resources and support networks within Pakistan. A top Jaish commander, Masood Ilyas Kashmiri (alias Abu Mohammad), addressed the gathering, praising Osama Bin Laden and claiming that the death of Masood Azhar’s family in Bahawalpur further solidified the Pakistani army and government’s role in Jihad.
Intelligence reports also indicate that Jaish-e-Mohammed is actively reviving its old training camp, Shuhada-e-Islam, in Manshera, rebranding it as Al Murabitoon to avoid international sanctions. Experts warn this shift poses a considerable threat to regional stability. The groups are expected to utilise POK as a forward operational base while establishing KPK as a secure rear command zone, leveraging its proximity to Afghanistan and its established network extending from POK to KPK. While Pakistan’s terror machinery is regrouping, the potential consequences of this strategic relocation underscore the ongoing need for sustained counter-terrorism efforts.