terrorism – Air Marshal's Perspective

October 27, 2025

767: JAISH-E-MOHAMMED LAUNCHES “TUFAT AL-MUMINAT”: DIGITAL JIHAD FOR WOMEN’S RADICALISATION

Pakistan-based, UN-designated terror group Jaish-e-Mohammed (JeM) has launched an online jihadist training programme titled Tufat al-Muminat. The initiative targeting women serves as the foundation course for JeM’s newly announced female militant wing (Jamat ul-Muminat). The course is reportedly led by Sadiya and Samaira Azhar, sisters of JeM founder Masood Azhar, and Afreera Farooq, wife of Umar Farooq, one of the terrorists behind the April 2025 Pahalgam attack in Jammu and Kashmir.

According to news reports, the online sessions are scheduled to begin on 08 Nov 2025. It will be conducted for 40 minutes daily through live video platforms. A nominal fee of PKR 500 is being charged to each participant. The sessions will likely focus on preaching extremist interpretations of Islam, emphasising women’s roles in jihad.

In the past, women played a minimal role in JeM’s activities. However, the development of a dedicated female wing and online training programs shows an increasing effort to involve women more actively. This is a significant change in JeM’s approach. It seems JeM is taking cues from other groups like ISIS, Boko Haram, and Hamas, which have a history of recruiting women for combat and even suicide missions.

Digital Jihad

In the digital age, warfare has moved beyond physical battlefields, infiltrating the virtual realm where ideas spread faster than bullets. Digital jihad is also called “electronic jihad” or “e-jihad.” It is an online version of jihadist ideology and activities in the cyber domain. The internet, with its enormous, anonymous, and interlinked nature, is being used to disseminate extremist ideologies, attract believers, and form worldwide connections. Digital jihad is practised in the darkness of social media, encrypted applications, and AI-generated content. The process of converting extremism into a digital form is now one of the key factors influencing global terrorism.

Evolution of Jihad in the Digital Era. The shift from traditional insurgencies to digital jihad began in the late 1990s when extremist groups recognised the internet’s potential as both an ideological and operational tool. Al-Qaeda led this change, using basic websites for fatwas and recruitment videos after 9/11. As social media grew, this evolved into complex digital systems in which recruitment, propaganda, indoctrination, and training became borderless, efficient, and viral. By the 2010s, ISIS took it further by creating a “virtual caliphate.” Social media gave jihadist organisations—including ISIS and al-Qaeda—the opportunity to connect with a worldwide audience with minimal expenses. ISIS revolutionised digital jihad through its propaganda films, magazines (Dabiq and Rumiyah), published in multiple languages. These publications served as tools for ideological indoctrination. Recent advances include “AI jihad,” where Hamas, al-Qaeda, and ISIS use generative AI for deepfakes and memes.

Mechanisms of Digital Jihad. Digital jihad works on several overlapping functions: propaganda, recruitment, training, funding, and coordinating activities. The most obvious one is propaganda, which is conveyed through multimedia messages, videos, GIFs, and memes that praise martyrdom and foster a sense of belonging to the world object. Emotional and ideological vulnerabilities of isolated, susceptible youth are being targeted online for recruitment. Encrypted networks have become the preferred option for jihadists to communicate and plan. They can coordinate across continents anonymously.

Ideological Narratives and Online Radicalisation. The ideological axis of digital jihad blends traditional Islamic discourse with modern grievance narratives—claiming to defend the ummah (global Muslim community) against alleged Western aggression. Online preachers and influencers exploit religious symbolism to justify violence morally. Digital content idealises jihad as an empowerment or a commandment of god that builds on the feelings of alienation of most migrants and diasporic young people. This narrative warfare was institutionalised in the media jihad by ISIS, which re-packaged jihad as not only a moral imperative but as an identity of lifestyle.

The Role of Technology and AI in Digital Jihad. Emerging artificial intelligence-based technologies have expanded the reach of digital jihad. Extremist content is now more visible than ever before. The extremist echo chambers are self-perpetuating, bombarding people with extremist content. The jihadist groups are utilising video editing software, bot networks, and data encryption to disguise operations within legitimate cyber traffic. The deep web and dark web serve as the extremist underworld—used for secure communications, recruitment screening, and financial transfers via cryptocurrencies. Virtual environments now replace physical training camps, providing tactical and ideological grooming.

Countermeasures and Digital Counter-Jihad. So far, the global response to digital jihad has been two-pronged—technological solutions and Counter-ideology campaigns. Technology is being used to develop automated tools to remove extremist content from various platforms. Artificial intelligence is progressively able to identify terrorist “clusters,” connecting pages, posts, and users to map networks and eliminate them. Yet, these roadblocks put up by the authorities and tech companies are not foolproof solutions in themselves. Initiatives for the counter-jihad movements also include online deradicalisation campaigns and educational outreach programs.

Ethical, Legal, and Strategic Challenges. Balancing security and freedom of expression remains one of the most controversial issues in countering digital jihad. Since online monitoring prevents threats, it also threatens privacy and civil liberties. In addition to that, the definition of terrorist propaganda is somewhat subjective and can be used as a means to stifle legitimate dissent. Discrepancies in jurisdictional law also threaten international cooperation, as the definition of online extremism varies from country to country. This conflict between private rights and collective security makes it more challenging to regulate the internet.

Future Trajectory. Digital jihad is transitioning to decentralised networks of self-governing cells that use encrypted communications rather than a hierarchical command-and-control structure. Cyberspace has taken on the characteristics of the new caliphate—unconfined, unformed, and resilient ideologically. The rapid development of artificial intelligence, deepfakes, and virtual reality will encourage the use of these technologies by digital jihad for recruitment and psychological operations. Consequently, governments need to consider the internet as an ever-changing battlefield that requires constant, flexible, and cooperative strategies among all state and non-state actors.

Conclusion

“Digital jihad” refers to the use of digital technologies and cyberspace by extremist groups to further their agenda. Dealing with digital jihad requires finding a delicate balance between using technology and applying legal measures, without infringing on human rights. The victory over digital jihad will be achieved through the application of more technologies and also through combating the causes of radicalisation worldwide that globalisation has brought about.

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Information and data included in the blog are for educational & non-commercial purposes only and have been carefully adapted, excerpted, or edited from reliable and accurate sources. All copyrighted material belongs to respective owners and is provided only for wider dissemination.

References: –

India Today, “Pakistan terror hypocrisy exposed again: Jaish-e-Mohammed launches online jihad course for women in Islamabad”, 22 Sep 25. https://www.indiatoday.in/world/story/jaish-e-mohammed-online-course-launch-for-women-recruitment-pakistan-terror-masood-azhar-2806662-2025-10-22

Tom O’Connor, “Generating jihad: How ISIS could use AI to plan its next attack”, Newsweek, 19m Sep 2025. https://www.newsweek.com/isis-ai-terrorism-al-qaeda-attack-2132143

Soumya Awasthi, “Jihadi use of artificial intelligence: A growing threat in the digital age”, Observer Research Foundation, 18 Aug 2025. https://www.orfonline.org/expert-speak/jihadi-use-of-artificial-intelligence-a-growing-threat-in-the-digital-age

Ben Makuch, “AI-Generated Extremism: How Terror Groups Exploit New Tech” The Guardian, 08 July 2024.

Lakomy M, “In Mapping Digital Jihad: Understanding the Structure and Evolution of al-Qaeda’s Information Ecosystem on the Surface Web”, Perspectives on Terrorism, 18(2), 82–99, 2024.

Siegel D, “AI jihad: Deciphering Hamas, Al-Qaeda and Islamic State’s generative AI digital arsenal”, Global Network on Extremism and Technology (GNET), 2024.

Foreign Affairs, “The Cyber Caliphate Lives On”, Foreign Affairs, March 2024.

Montasari R, “Analysing ethical, legal, technical and operational challenges of the application of machine learning in countering cyber terrorism”, (pp. 123–145), Springer, 2024.

Siegel D & Chandra B, “The digital weaponry of radicalisation: AI and the recruitment nexus”, Global Network on Extremism and Technology (GNET), 2024.

October 17, 2025October 21, 2025

760: THE MUNIR DOCTRINE: PAKISTAN’S PATH TO MILITANCY

In the volatile aftermath of the May 2025 border conflict with India, Pakistan’s Chief of Army Staff, General Syed Asim Munir, elevated himself to Field Marshal. Amid economic malaise, political fragmentation, and heightened Indo-Pak tensions, Munir seized the crisis to present himself as the defender of Pakistan’s Islamic identity, echoing the authoritarian legacies of Generals Ayub Khan and Zia-ul-Haq. Munir has become the central figure in Pakistan’s governance, overshadowing the Prime Minister and the judiciary in decision-making.

Munir’s worldview blends military strategy with Islamic theology, reminiscent of General Zia-ul-Haq’s Islamisation policies in the 1970s and 1980s. He overtly infuses religious ideology into military affairs. In a speech to a grand jirga in Peshawar, Munir explicitly stated that the Pakistan Army operates under the principles of “imaan, taqwa, and jihad fi sabeelillah”, the Arabic phrase translates to “Faith, Piety, and Struggle in the path of God”. Although these are core concepts in Islam, the phrase has been adopted as the official motto of the Pakistani Army. These statements are more in line with militant organisations than modern militaries. Munir’s rhetoric has emboldened radical groups and blurred the line between conventional military operations and religious militancy.

This “Munir Doctrine,” a hardline military and ideological framework, has redefined Pakistan’s strategic posture. The doctrine signifies a regressive shift away from the geo-economic pragmatism of Munir’s predecessor, General Qamar Javed Bajwa, toward a fusion of religious fervour, proxy warfare, and unyielding military dominance. This regressive and incendiary worldview intensifies longstanding themes in the Pakistan Army’s ethos, positioning it as the guardian of both territorial borders and ideological frontiers.

Core Tenets of Munir Doctrine

Emphasis on Religious Ideology. At its heart, the doctrine invokes a narrow interpretation of the Two-Nation Theory, portraying India as an existential threat to Pakistan’s Islamic identity. Munir elevates religious scholars and clerics to influential roles, fusing military command with faith-based justification, a “militarisation of faith” that narrows pluralism. Speeches brim with symbolism, recasting soldiers as “martyrs of the faith” in state media and school curricula infused with jihadist vignettes. This exclusivist stance, critics argue, echoes Zia’s Islamisation but with 21st-century tools like fatwas endorsing preemption.

Shift from Geo-Economics to Jihadism. Reversing Bajwa’s focus on trade corridors, pragmatic diplomacy, and Gulf investments, Munir decries “economic surrender” as a “Zionist-Indian ploy.” A leaked June 2025 memo to corps commanders revives proxy warfare. At a Lahore rally, he quipped, “Jihad feeds the soul; dollars feed the enemy.” He has been redirecting external aid to madrasa expansions, border fortifications, and drone upgrades.

Military Dominance. Exploiting external threats, the doctrine justifies deeper military intervention in governance. Some of the enhancements to the military power include the reinstatement of military trials for civilians (the Pakistan Army Act permits the prosecution of civilians in military courts) and the expansion of preventive detention powers (military and civil armed forces can detain terror suspects for up to 3 months without charge).

Political Consolidation. Recent developments have increased the military’s influence over governance in Pakistan. This has been achieved through political manoeuvring and the erosion of democratic institutions. Military leaders have historically exerted control over key policies (including foreign policy) by manipulating civilian governments with the notion of “ideological threats” to justify their interventions in political and judicial affairs.

Aggressive Posture toward India. Asim Munir has adopted an aggressive posture toward India through provocative rhetoric and support to terrorist organisations. His fiery, inciting speeches are a testament to explicit brinkmanship against India.

Harsh Measures against Opposition. Munir’s repression mirrors Zia’s tactics. Opposition leaders like Imran Khan face sedition from Adiala jail. Women’s groups report a surge in honour killings, excused as “faith preservation.” Media is muzzled with shuttered outlets for “defeatist” coverage, weaponising “ideological purity” to delegitimise critics as “enemies of Islam” or Indian agents.

Analytical Perspective

Comparisons with Past Doctrines. The Munir Doctrine evokes General Zia-ul-Haq’s 1980s Islamisation, which used religion to legitimise authoritarianism and arm the Afghan mujahideen. Like Zia, Munir blends barracks and belief, but his explicit nuclear threats and economic abandonment heightens the peril. Unlike Ayub Khan or Pervez Musharraf, who balanced ideology with modernisation, Munir prioritises perpetual conflict to entrench military authority, risking the collapse of a fragile state under the weight of its own dogma.

Implications for Pakistan. The Munir Doctrine, with its emphasis on ideological militancy over pragmatic reform, is steering Pakistan into treacherous waters, exacerbating its already dire economic, social, and political crises. By prioritising religious fervour and military dominance, Field Marshal Asim Munir risks threatening its stability. IMF negotiations, critical for averting default, have stalled due to what analysts call “militarised budgeting”. Foreign reserves cannot sustain imports, while remittances are plummeting.

Radicalisation. The situation in Pakistan is compounded by social polarisation. The doctrine’s appeal prioritising Islamic identity delivers short-term unity by rallying the pious middle class and rural heartlands around a narrative of “faith under siege.” However, it masks a dangerous long-term trend, the radicalisation of public discourse and the marginalisation of moderate voices. By weaponising “ideological purity,” the military alienates secular intellectuals, urban professionals, and minority communities, pushing them to the fringes.

Regional Consequences. Regionally, the Munir Doctrine’s revival of proxy warfare inflames tensions in Kashmir and Afghanistan, destabilising South Asia. Renewed support for militant groups like Lashkar-e-Taiba, evidenced by a spike in arms flows, would escalate cross-border violence with India. In Afghanistan, Pakistan’s interference strains ties with the Taliban, once proxies but now rivals in jihadist branding, risking spillover into China’s Xinjiang region, where Uighur militancy could threaten Beijing’s interests. This jeopardises fears of a broader regional conflagration.

Conclusion

The Munir Doctrine marks a profoundly regressive turn, elevating jihadist statecraft, authoritarian control, and aggression toward India. While consolidating short-term power, it risks economic despair, isolation, and regional catastrophe. The Munir Doctrine, whether it forges a fortress or a funeral for Pakistan, remains South Asia’s most perilous risk.

Bottom Line

Stay Alert, Keep a lookout, Be ready and Keep the powder dry.