Twenty-four Years On: December 13 And Pakistan’s Role In The JeM Network

Twenty-four years ago on this day (December 13, 2001), five gunmen linked to Pakistan-based terror outfit Jaish-e-Mohammed (JeM) drove through Parliament’s security barriers shortly after the Houses had adjourned.

In a gunfight that lasted less than an hour, the attack exposed what Indian investigators later described as a cross border ecosystem in which a proscribed group operated with state tolerance. Two decades later, the assault remains a reference point in counter terrorism discussions and in debates about the limits of global monitoring when a militant organisation benefits from local sanctuary.

Indian authorities traced weapons, communications and logistics chains to handlers in Pakistan. Analysts say the operation was designed to strike the core of a democratic institution and to demonstrate that a United Nations (UN) listed terrorist group retained both capability and freedom of movement. The attack occurred only months after the UN Security Council added JeM to its sanctions list.

How did Pakistan’s security policies shape the environment in which JeM operated?

JeM expanded rapidly after founder Masood Azhar was released in the IC 814 hijacking exchange. Its facilities and networks were concentrated in Pakistan’s Punjab province. Despite formal bans, international reporting has noted the continued presence of JeM’s complex in Bahawalpur and the group’s ability to hold public gatherings.

Security analysts say this persistence reflects a wider pattern in which Pakistan has used some non state actors for strategic leverage. They also point to Pakistan’s years on the Financial Action Task Force (FATF) grey list as evidence of global concern about terror financing oversight. Even after Pakistan exited the grey list in 2022, FATF said monitoring of financing channels linked to attacks in India would continue.

How has JeM evolved since the 2001 attack?

Investigators have long said JeM has shifted from large identifiable clusters to dispersed modules that rely on encrypted communications and educated recruits. A newly public women’s wing called Jamaat-e-Mominaat, run by relatives of Azhar, conducts online courses and outreach across Pakistani cities. Analysts say this structure allows JeM to expand its recruitment base while reducing its visibility.

Recent Indian investigations, including probes into a blast near Delhi’s Red Fort, have identified modules with suspected JeM links. Officials say these cases show that the group continues to test urban security systems.

Why does the attack remain internationally significant?

For global policymakers, the Parliament assault stands out as an example of a UN listed organisation executing a strike on the legislature of another state while operating from the territory of a formal counter terror partner. Analysts say the conditions that enabled the attack, including Pakistan’s internal political calculations and uneven enforcement of bans, still exist.

India responded by strengthening intelligence coordination and later creating the National Investigation Agency. Its approach is cited by officials as an example of institutional reform after a major security breach. The 2001 attack remains a reminder that counter terrorism depends on political will as well as technical measures.