Summary of Discussion: Jamaat ul-Mominaat & Lashkar-e-Taiba

Topic 1: What is Jamaat ul-Mominaat?

Jamaat ul-Mominaat is an Arabic phrase that translates literally to "Group of the Believing Women." In a general, non-controversial sense, it can refer to any informal gathering of devout Muslim women for religious or social purposes.

However, in modern security and intelligence contexts, the term is used to refer to a specific, alleged all-female auxiliary unit associated with the terrorist organization Lashkar-e-Taiba and its political front, Jamaat-ud-Dawa.

This alleged group is described as having several key functions: providing logistical support like safe houses and courier services, recruiting and radicalizing other women, gathering intelligence, and potentially training for direct action, including suicide bombings. The group gained notoriety through figures like Syed Hafeez Sadiq, its alleged chief, and Sajida Mubarak, a key recruiter. It is important to note that the group's existence is based on intelligence reports and interrogations, as LeT officially denies it to maintain operational secrecy.

Topic 2: The Size and Territorial Control of Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT)

Size of LeT

The organization's size is estimated but not precise. The core militant strength consists of several hundred to a few thousand fully-trained fighters. When including its extensive political, charitable, and support networks under Jamaat-ud-Dawa and the Falah-e-Insaniat Foundation, the total network encompasses tens of thousands of individuals, making it one of the largest militant groups in South Asia.

Territorial Control of LeT

Lashkar-e-Taiba does not control sovereign territory in the manner of a traditional insurgency. Instead, it exerts significant influence and operates with impunity within Pakistan, particularly in Punjab and Kashmir. The group maintains a vast network of overt facilities, including its headquarters in Muridke, madrassas, schools, and training camps. This presence is tolerated due to the group's long-standing role as a strategic proxy for the Pakistani state's security establishment, primarily against India. Their "control" is therefore a function of state patronage and sanctuary, not conquest.