New Delhi, October 17, 2026 (Yes Punjab News)
Jaish-e-Mohammed (JeM) is facing mounting internal turmoil following Operation Sindoor, with the reported withdrawal of its chief, Masood Azhar, from an active leadership role and a series of killings of operatives by unidentified gunmen deepening divisions within the Pakistan-based terror outfit, according to intelligence officials.
While ground cadres are reportedly positioned at launchpads in Pakistan-occupied Kashmir (PoK) and awaiting operational instructions, the outfit is grappling with divisions among its senior and second-rung leadership, officials said.
An Intelligence Bureau official claimed that Pakistan’s Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI) had taken control of Jaish-e-Mohammed and Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT), as well as Hizbul Mujahideen, and was directing their activities. According to the official, the ISI has instructed the three groups to maintain unity and operate on a common front in Jammu and Kashmir.
“Technically, Masood Azhar, Hafiz Saeed and Syed Salahuddin are the chiefs of JeM, LeT and Hizbul Mujahideen, respectively. However, all decisions are taken by the ISI, and these leaders have to report to the spy agency. The ISI has assigned Brigadier Iqbal and Colonel Owaiz to oversee the operations of the three terror outfits,” the official said.
Another official said that although the cadres had been brought under control, differences between the top leadership and the second tier remained a major challenge for the ISI.
Azhar has reportedly stepped back from an active role because of ill health and the loss of close family members during Operation Sindoor in May last year.
“The ISI may have taken complete control, but the agency still cannot fill in the void owing to Azhar’s absence,” an official said.
Azhar has long held considerable influence within Jaish-e-Mohammed and other militant groups, officials said. His authority and ideological standing reportedly helped maintain internal cohesion, with lower-ranking leaders reluctant to challenge his directives.
His reduced involvement has, however, left the organisation struggling to maintain that unity, according to the officials.
A separate official said disagreements frequently surfaced during leadership meetings, particularly over the allocation of responsibilities and control of the organisation.
“While a Brigadier and Colonel are at the helm, these leaders still do not consider them leaders as they are not ideologically inclined towards them, like in the case of Azhar,” the official said.
The organisation has also been affected by a series of killings of its operatives by unidentified gunmen in recent years. Several of those killed reportedly held important positions, further complicating the leadership situation. Since 2020, at least 30 operatives associated with Jaish-e-Mohammed and Lashkar-e-Taiba have been killed by unknown assailants, according to the report.
The recent death of Muhammad Asim, a Lahore-based operational commander of Jaish-e-Mohammed, has reportedly intensified internal tensions. Asim, his wife Huma Asim and their son, Talha Asim, were killed when a heavy trailer rammed into their vehicle from behind.
The circumstances of the incident have prompted suspicion among some members of the organisation and surviving relatives, with some alleging that it could have been an internal hit linked to financial dealings. These claims have not been independently established.
Asim was reportedly responsible for fundraising and developing international channels to move money for the organisation’s operations. Officials also said he had been tasked with dealing directly with Hamas on funding-related matters.
Other prominent operatives whose deaths have raised questions include Shahid Latif, identified as the mastermind of the 2016 Pathankot attack, Maulana Salman Azhar and Maulana Raheem Ullah Tariq.
According to officials, speculation over possible internal killings has fuelled mistrust within the organisation, with some questioning the loyalty of its leadership.
The divisions reportedly became more pronounced following Operation Sindoor, during which Indian armed forces struck Jaish-e-Mohammed’s headquarters in Bahawalpur. The operation also resulted in the deaths of several cadres and close family members of Masood Azhar, according to the report.
Azhar’s subsequent retreat from an active leadership role has further weakened the outfit’s ideological leadership, officials said, leaving the organisation facing a combination of internal rivalries, uncertainty over succession and questions surrounding the deaths of key operatives.
The extent of the internal divisions and the circumstances surrounding the reported killings remain difficult to establish independently.
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