NEW DELHI: Pakistan-sponsored terror outfits Jaish-e-Mohammed (JeM) and Hizbul Mujahideen (HM) are relocating their bases from Pakistan-occupied Kashmir (PoK) to Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KPK) following the precision strikes under Operation Sindoor earlier this year.
Tactical Move After Operation Sindoor
The relocation comes after Indian strikes on May 7 destroyed multiple terror hubs in PoK, including facilities linked to the leadership of JeM. PoK is now seen as vulnerable to further operations, prompting both groups to seek refuge deeper inside Pakistan.
KPK offers a more secure environment with its mountainous terrain, proximity to Afghanistan, and a legacy of jihadi infrastructure dating back to the Afghan war.
Recruitment Drive in Mansehra
On September 14, a major gathering took place in Garhi Habibullah town of Mansehra district, KPK, under the banner of a religious congregation. It doubled as a recruitment drive for JeM’s expanding training complex in the region.
JeM’s KPK chief, Maulana Mufti Masood Ilyas Kashmiri, addressed the rally, invoking the group’s ideological links to global jihad.
Expansion of Training Facilities
Fresh construction and logistical inflows are being tracked at JeM’s Markaz Shohada-e-Islam in Mansehra. Another large-scale event is scheduled for September 25 in Peshawar under JeM’s front name Al-Murabitun.
This rally is expected to mobilise new cadres and commemorate slain leadership figures.
Hizbul Mujahideen’s New Camp
Parallel to JeM’s activities, Hizbul Mujahideen is developing a facility called HM 313 in Bandai, Lower Dir. Land for the camp was secured last year, and construction resumed after Operation Sindoor.
The name “313” is symbolic, referencing both the Battle of Badr and Al-Qaeda’s Brigade 313, underscoring HM’s attempt to project global jihadi credentials.
Strategic Implications
The relocation of these groups from PoK to KPK reflects a calculated bid to shield their cadres and infrastructure from future strikes.
Embedding deeper within Pakistan’s territory provides tactical depth while bringing them closer to Afghan-based networks.
Security observers warn that these moves complicate counter-terrorism efforts in the region, as the groups are now positioned to draw on broader jihadi linkages while operating under political-religious cover.
Verification Status
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Confirmed developments include: JeM and HM shifting out of PoK, the Mansehra rally on September 14, expansion of training activity in Mansehra, the upcoming Peshawar event on September 25, and the resumption of work on HM 313 in Lower Dir.
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Unverified but alleged details include: the extent of state facilitation, direct involvement of Pakistan’s security agencies, and the precise scale of new camp infrastructure.
