In the aftermath of Operation Sindoor, a targeted Indian military campaign that dismantled at least nine significant terrorist hubs in Pakistan-occupied Kashmir (PoK), a senior Indian intelligence official has confirmed a strategic relocation. Pakistan-sponsored terror outfits are now deliberately moving their operations into Pakistan’s Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KPK) province.
A detailed dossier, compiled with information from various central Indian intelligence agencies, indicates that primarily Jaish-e-Mohammed (JeM) and Hizbul Mujahideen (HM) have begun to transfer their infrastructure out of PoK. This shift comes as PoK is increasingly perceived as highly vulnerable to precise Indian strikes.
According to the intelligence official, who closely monitored the threat assessment post-Operation Sindoor, relocating to KPK offers these organizations significant operational depth. This is attributed to the province’s challenging, rugged terrain, its close proximity to the Afghan frontier, and a history of jihadi safe havens that date back to the Afghan war.
The Hindu has obtained photographs of new camps under construction in Mansehra city, located in the Hazara division of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province. These images reveal ongoing construction of a large assembly hall roof and show significant amounts of building materials, suggesting a rapid expansion of facilities.
Direct State Involvement Confirmed
The intelligence official, part of the agency instrumental in identifying targets for Operation Sindoor across Pakistan and PoK, stated unequivocally that this movement is being carried out with direct assistance from Pakistan’s state structures. Evidence points to visible JeM gatherings, often occurring under police protection, and covert support from political-religious factions like the Jamiat Ulema-e-Islam (JUI), as confirmed by sources.
Intelligence agencies reported that on September 14, 2025, merely seven hours before a major India–Pakistan cricket match, a so-called “Deobandi religious gathering” took place in Mansehra district (KPK). This event was, in fact, a JeM–JUI mobilization drive. It was addressed by Mufti Masood Ilyas Kashmiri, also known as Abu Mohammad, who serves as JeM’s chief for KPK and Kashmir. He is considered a high-value target, closely associated with Masood Azhar, and central to JeM’s strategic reorganization following Operation Sindoor.
A senior official shared a 30-minute video featuring Masood Ilyas discussing figures like Osama Bin Laden and Masood Azhar, and detailing the relationship between the Pakistan Army and JeM. The video also distinctly shows armed JeM cadres carrying M4 rifles, alongside a local police officer.
The dossier obtained by The Hindu further reveals the construction of Hizbul Mujahideen’s new training facility, dubbed “HM 313,” in the Bandaai area of KPK. This project is reportedly supervised by former Pakistani commando Khalid Khan. The land for this facility was reportedly acquired discreetly in August 2024, with construction accelerating after Operation Sindoor.
Additionally, the dossier outlines JeM’s plans for a significant event on September 25, 2025, at Marakaz Shaheed Maksudabad in Peshawar. This event is intended to commemorate Yusuf Azhar, Masood Azhar’s brother, who was killed during Operation Sindoor. Pamphlets circulated under JeM’s alias Al-Murabitun confirm this mobilization, which is expected to serve as both a memorial gathering and a large-scale recruitment campaign.
This strategic relocation highlights a crucial tactical adjustment by Pakistan’s proxy terror networks. It not only demonstrates their adaptability but also signals Islamabad’s ongoing involvement and complicity in sustaining cross-border terrorism. Operation Sindoor was specifically designed as a punitive, targeted operation to dismantle terror infrastructure situated across the Line of Control and deep within Pakistan’s territory.