The report highlights significant concerns about the expansion of the Jaish-e-Mohammed (JeM) base in Bahawalpur, Pakistan, despite the country being removed from the Financial Action Task Force (FATF) Grey List in October 2022. Satellite imagery analysis conducted by Intel Lab’s Damien Symon and space technology firm Maxar Technologies shows that the Jamia Masjid Subhan Allah complex has nearly doubled in size to over 18 acres, with construction accelerating since Pakistan’s removal from the Grey List. The site now includes multiple new buildings, a mosque, and livestock stables, while additional security posts suggest increased protection.
India Today’s OSINT team further confirms that JeM-linked accounts promoted a gathering at the location on February 16, 2025, under the ‘Infaq fi Sabilillah’ campaign, featuring Talha al-Saif, the brother of JeM founder Masood Azhar. This confirms that the site remains operational for recruitment and fundraising.
Despite JeM being officially banned in Pakistan, intelligence sources reveal that the Bahawalpur headquarters primarily serves recruitment and financing, while terror training is conducted at Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KPK) and Pakistan-occupied Kashmir (PoK). The Bahawalpur compound, located near Pakistani military institutions, is often referred to as the ‘New Abbottabad’ in intelligence circles due to its proximity to the Bahawalpur Army Cantonment and Air Force Station.
Masood Azhar designated a global terrorist, has largely remained out of public view since April 2019, following an explosion at his Peshawar hideout—a revelation first reported by India Today in 2023. However, he resurfaced on June 27, 2024, attending a wedding and addressing a gathering, with India Today verifying his identity through voice samples.
The expansion of the Bahawalpur facility raises concerns about JeM’s continued operations and its links with Pakistani authorities, particularly given its strategic location and its use of Al-Rahmat Trust as a front. The ongoing developments indicate a strengthening of JeM’s infrastructure, which could have wider security implications.
