Pakistani authorities have reportedly allocated approximately PKR 250 million to rebuild the Jaish-e-Mohammed (JeM) headquarters in Bahawalpur, which Indian armed forces destroyed during Operation Sindoor in May 2024, according to Indian intelligence officials. The reconstruction of the facility — known as Markaz Subhanallah — is said to be largely symbolic, aimed at signalling organisational continuity to potential recruits rather than restoring full operational capacity.

Markaz Subhanallah: Rebuilt but Deliberately Hollowed Out

According to an Intelligence Bureau official, activity at Markaz Subhanallah has resumed after roughly 15 months of reconstruction, but under markedly different conditions. 'Jaish has been deliberately asked to maintain a very low strength at the facility. Further, the top leaders of the JeM have been asked to completely avoid the facility for some more time. This decision has been taken due to security concerns,' the official said.

A second official confirmed that Pakistani authorities have 'stepped up security multi-fold' and issued instructions to 'maintain a low-key approach and not use the facility too much.' Large-scale gatherings or events at the site have been ruled out for the foreseeable future, the official added.

Operation Sindoor's Lasting Blow to JeM's Cadre

Beyond the physical destruction of infrastructure, Operation Sindoor dealt a severe blow to JeM's trained manpower. 'A large number of trained cadres were present at the facility when Indian armed forces carried out the strike. The loss of personnel, particularly trained cadres, dealt a major blow to the terror outfit,' an official said.

Intelligence officials noted that while damaged infrastructure can be rebuilt with funding, replenishing trained operatives is a far longer and more complex process — one that can take months or, in some cases, years. As a result, the Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI) has issued instructions to JeM's top leadership to prioritise the safety of its surviving cadres and minimise their exposure to potential future strikes.

ISI Reworks Strategy: Cadres Moved to PoK Launch Pads

In a significant strategic shift, the ISI has instructed Jaish-e-Mohammed, Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT), and Hizbul Mujahideen to move trained operatives away from fixed facilities — which are considered high-value targets — and relocate them to launch pads in Pakistan-occupied Kashmir (PoK). Officials say the agency is planning a large-scale coordinated operation in Jammu and Kashmir, led jointly by all three groups rather than individually.

Notably, the ISI's revised calculus reportedly treats the loss of cadres in cross-border terror attacks as a recruitment asset. Officials say the agency would 'rather let them die on the battlefield in Jammu and Kashmir' than lose them to strikes inside Pakistan, as operatives killed in attacks can be projected as martyrs — a significant draw for recruitment, particularly for JeM, which has reportedly struggled to attract new members since Operation Sindoor.

Recruitment Slump and the Martyr Narrative

Since the Indian strikes, recruitment for JeM has been described as 'hard' by officials. The destruction of Markaz Subhanallah — once a central symbol of the outfit's reach — and the loss of trained personnel sent a damaging signal to potential recruits. The PKR 250 million rebuild is, according to officials, partly an attempt to reverse that narrative and project organisational resilience.

The Indian armed forces launched Operation Sindoor in response to the Pahalgam terror attack. With the ISI now consolidating its proxy network and repositioning assets closer to the Line of Control, security analysts are watching for signs of an imminent escalation in Jammu and Kashmir.