Jaish-e-Mohammed Turns to AI Deepfakes to Boost Recruitment

New Delhi, October 31 (Daily Kiran) : Pakistan-based terrorist organization Jaish-e-Mohammed (JeM) has started utilizing artificial intelligence (AI) to create fake audio and video clips of its leader, Masood Azhar. This move aims to bolster recruitment following substantial losses during Operation Sindoor.

Intelligence agencies report that groups like ISIS and Al-Qaeda were among the first to incorporate AI technology into their operations. While ISIS initially capitalized on this technology, Al-Qaeda has quickly followed suit. In contrast, groups like Lashkar-e-Taiba and Jaish-e-Mohammed have traditionally relied on conventional communication and recruitment methods.

Recent intelligence indicates that JeM is now extensively using AI-generated content. Officials believe this shift is a response to the organization’s leadership’s absence in public after Operation Sindoor, which severely impacted recruitment efforts.

An officer from the Intelligence Bureau stated that the recruitment process within JeM suffered a significant blow after the operation, particularly following the tragic deaths of innocent tourists in the Pahalgam attack. During this operation, JeM’s headquarters in Bahawalpur was destroyed, and several terrorists, including close relatives of Azhar, were killed.

Masood Azhar’s prolonged absence from the public eye has raised questions about his whereabouts and activity, leading many potential recruits to hesitate in joining a group whose leader appears inactive.

The officer explained, “The audio and video clips released to boost morale and recruitment were described as old and reused footage. Consequently, JeM decided to leverage AI on a large scale to reshape its image.”

Using AI, JeM is producing audio and video that convey the message that Masood Azhar is active and leading the organization. These videos showcase Azhar appealing for new recruits and calling for jihad against India.

Another officer noted that the older videos were easily recognizable, as many had seen them before. The rapid advancement of AI technology has made it challenging for ordinary members and potential recruits to distinguish between real and fake content.

According to the officer, “This campaign is particularly aimed at less-educated workers and potential recruits. It is deliberately targeted because verifying the authenticity of videos is not easy for them.”

The primary goal of Jaish-e-Mohammed is to increase recruitment. In recent months, many contacted individuals have shown reluctance or outright refusal to join. They seek proof that Masood Azhar is still active, but recruiters struggle to provide satisfactory answers.

For these individuals and older members, Azhar is a figure of admiration. Without him, few are willing to join the organization, which has adversely affected both morale and recruitment efforts.

Officials indicate that while AI has significantly helped Jaish manage this issue, the organization still faces the challenge of leadership succession following Masood Azhar. Therefore, they plan to conduct AI-driven propaganda campaigns in rural areas of both Pakistan and India.

The videos featuring Masood Azhar intended for India will be tailored to different regions and local languages. JeM has deliberately targeted rural and economically disadvantaged communities, where awareness of generative AI technologies is relatively low, making these individuals more susceptible to influence.

Jaish aims to maintain its operational status, boost morale among its members, and increase recruitment. However, the organization acknowledges that Masood Azhar’s health is not what it used to be, and he is no longer in a position to lead from the front.

According to one officer, through AI-generated videos, Jaish seeks not only to enhance recruitment but also to buy time until new leadership is established.