Faridabad woman doctor linked to Jaish-e-Mohammed network

New Delhi: The woman doctor arrested in Faridabad after a massive cache of explosives was found in her car is suspected to have links with the Pakista n-based terrorist group Jaish-e-Mohammed. National media reports suggest that the accused, Dr. Shaheen Shahid, played a key role in establishing Jaish’s women’s wing in India.

Shaheen, a resident of Lal Bagh in Lucknow and reportedly associated with Al-Falah University, was arrested after Faridabad police uncovered an AK-47 rifle and other weapons from her vehicle. The discovery followed the dismantling of a Jaish -e- Mohammed terror module in the area. Investigators also suspect that Shaheen maintained close contact with Kashmiri doctor Muzammil Ganaie, who was arrested earlier when 2,900 kilograms of explosives were recovered in Faridabad.

Jaish-e-Mohammed, a banned organisation based in Pakistan, has been responsible for several major terror attacks in India. Following the Indian military’s Operation Sindoor, conducted in response to the Pahalgam attack, the group suffered severe losses. Despite that, intelligence inputs indicate that Jaish is attempting to rebuild its network and revive operations across the region, including through the formation of its first women’s division.

The newly formed female unit, named “Jamaat-ul-Mominaat,” marks a significant shift in the group’s strategy. Traditionally, Jaish barred women from participating in armed missions, but recent developments show a deliberate effort to involve them in militant and logistical operations. Recruitment for this women’s wing reportedly began at the Markaz Usman-o-Ali centre in Bahawalpur, Pakistan.

The wing is reportedly led by Sadia Azhar, sister of UN- designated terrorist and Jaish founder Masood Azhar. During India’s Operation Sindoor, Jaish’s Bahawalpur headquarters were destroyed, and several senior leaders, including Masood Azhar’s brother, were killed. Sadia’s husband, Yusuf Azhar, was among the masterminds of the Kandahar hijacking incident.

Authorities believe the group’s latest attempt to involve women indicates a shift in operational tactics, aimed at evading traditional counter-terror surveillance. Investigations into Dr Shaheen Shahid’s role are ongoing, with agencies probing possible cross-border links and her involvement in recruiting or mobilising others for the outfit’s revived network.