In an era where even the most secure systems can be hacked, terrorism is undergoing a dangerous transformation powered by technology. Pakistan and the terror outfit Jaish-e-Mohammed (JeM) exemplify this shift. As India, the United States, and the European Union intensified their efforts to cut off terror financing by freezing millions of accounts worldwide linked to extremist groups, terrorists began seeking alternative methods. Their answer: digital terrorism.
The alarming question is, what happens when a government entrusted with countering such threats becomes complicit? This is precisely what is unfolding in Pakistan. Shockwaves rippled across the world when reports emerged linking not only Pakistan Army Chief Asim Munir and JeM leader Masood Azhar but also U.S. President Donald Trump to the growing phenomenon of digital terror financing. Israel has long warned that global donations for Gaza often end up funding Islamic terror networks. A significant share fattens Hamas leadership. Now, JeM appears to have adopted a similar model in Pakistan. According to media reports, the group is attempting to rebuild terror camps under the cover of Gaza solidarity campaigns.
Operation Sindoor’s impact and Pakistan’s shift to digital terror funding
India had delivered a decisive blow to JeM through Operation Sindoor on May 7, 2025, a precision strike targeting nine terrorist hubs inside Pakistan. Importantly, India avoided civilian or military infrastructure, striking only terror camps, several of which were in Pakistan-occupied Kashmir (PoK). The operation devastated major bases in Muridke and Bahawalpur, hitting the Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT) headquarters in Muridke twice and the JeM headquarters in Bahawalpur at three points. Two radar installations in Gujranwala were also neutralized. Over 100 terrorists were eliminated, including operatives linked to the Kandahar hijacking and Pulwama attack, such as Yusuf Azhar, Abdul Malik Rauf, and Mudassar Ahmed.
This operation rattled Pakistan’s terror ecosystem, forcing the abandonment of several camps. But Pakistan and its proxies, JeM and LeT, remain inseparable from terrorism. Army Chief Asim Munir, an ardent anti-India hardliner, is reportedly spearheading efforts to revive these networks through the ISI. Pakistan’s Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif politically weak, preoccupied with a collapsing economy and bankruptcy. Financial constraints have curtailed ISI’s traditional terror funding.
To compensate, Pakistan has turned to crowdfunding disguised as aid for Gaza. According to reports, JeM chief Masood Azhar aims to raise ₹390 crore to rebuild terror infrastructure. Campaigns during Friday prayers across Pakistan are raising money in the name of mosque and Markaz construction. Multiple media outlets confirm this trend, with plans to establish 313 new terror camps with ISI’s backing.
With global watchdogs like the Financial Action Task Force (FATF) closely monitoring traditional channels, Pakistan is resorting to digital wallets such as Easy Paisa and SadaPay to evade scrutiny. Investigations reveal a SadaPay account under Masood Azhar’s brother Talha Al Saif, linked to a number used by Aftab Ahmed, a JeM commander in Haripur. Another Easy Paisa wallet is registered under Abdullah Azhar, Masood’s son. Additional wallets, purportedly for Gaza relief, also funnel money to terror networks, as reported by Moneycontrol. The Al-Rahmat Trust, controlled by Masood and associates, channels funds via an account in the National Bank of Pakistan, contributing ₹100 crore annually to JeM. Fundraising strategies exploit global sympathy for Gaza by circulating heart-wrenching images of starvation and destruction. Consequently, even unsuspecting donors opposed to terrorism indirectly finance it.
Crypto Nexus: Pakistan’s digital lifeline and Trump’s controversial ties
Meanwhile, international agencies have flagged the growing role of cryptocurrency in terror financing. Reports suggest the recent crypto boom in Pakistan has roots in Army Chief Asim Munir’s interests, intertwined with JeM.
This murky network took a controversial turn with revelations about Donald Trump’s connections to Pakistan’s crypto surge. Two months ago, Trump hosted Asim Munir at the White House for a private lunch and extended discussions, a historic move since no Pakistani Army Chief without political power has previously received such an invitation. Traditionally, only presidents like Ayub Khan, Zia-ul-Haq, and Pervez Musharraf were accorded such treatment. Trump, however, reportedly recognized the Army Chief’s dominance in Pakistan’s power structure.
Allegations now suggest Trump’s newfound warmth toward Pakistan stems from financial interests in the crypto sector. Trump, a billionaire with an estimated net worth of $6.7 billion (Forbes), has faced scrutiny for his business entanglements. Past controversies include Qatar gifting him a $400 million skyscraper. Analysts estimate Trump’s crypto dealings could significantly boost his fortune.
At the center of this storm is World Liberty Financial, a crypto enterprise linked to Trump and his family. The company reportedly signed an MoU with the Pakistan Crypto Council (PCC) on April 26, barely weeks after Indian airstrikes on terror camps. Notably, the PCC was formed less than a month prior, fueling suspicions about the timing.
World Liberty Financial’s leadership includes Trump, his sons Donald Jr., Eric, and even grandson Barron. Trump himself is described as the company’s “Chief Crypto Advocate.” Reports indicate he owns a majority stake through CIC Digital, controlling nearly 80% of Trump-branded tokens. Estimates peg Trump’s crypto holdings at $58 billion, which could soar if Pakistani investments materialize.
The U.S. Senate has reacted strongly, ordering an investigation into whether Trump’s crypto ventures jeopardize national security. The Permanent Subcommittee on Investigations, chaired by Senator Richard Blumenthal, has demanded all communications between World Liberty Financial and Pakistan’s leadership post-May 6. The inquiry will probe potential legal violations in Trump’s overseas crypto dealings.
Adding to the intrigue, Bilal Bin Saqib, CEO of Pakistan Crypto Council, told the Global Crypto Summit in Las Vegas that Pakistan and Bitcoin suffer from “bad PR,” portraying Pakistan as a misunderstood but high-potential player. He announced plans for a strategic Bitcoin reserve, a move reportedly attractive to Trump. This follows Trump’s personal crypto ventures, including a Trump token launched before his presidency and a Melania Trump coin, collectively valued at over $10 billion.
For Pakistan, crypto presents a lifeline to fund extremism under international radar. For Trump, it could mean cementing his status as a global crypto mogul. Critics in U.S. media accuse Trump of ignoring terror links in pursuit of profit. Indian intelligence suggests the Asim–Masood axis orchestrates these operations, with ISI shielding Masood Azhar and enabling his financial resurgence through digital means.
Asim Munir’s extremist rhetoric and the rising threat of digital jihad
Asim Munir’s rhetoric underscores his ideological alignment with JeM. On April 17, less than a week before the Pahalgam terror attack that killed 26 Indians, Munir declared: “Kashmir is the blood vessel in Pakistan’s neck; we are different from Hindus; the two countries will never reconcile.” Indian agencies believe these words emboldened militants.
Munir, a former imam and Hafiz-e-Quran, injects religion into his speeches, amplifying anti-India sentiment. At a recent Florida business dinner, he likened India to a luxury Mercedes and Pakistan to a heavily loaded truck, warning: “Who loses if a truck hits a car?” He threatened missile strikes on Indian dams and invoked nuclear blackmail: “If our existence is threatened, we will destroy half the world with us.”
These remarks reflect the convergence of ideology and state policy. Munir’s ISI continues to shield Masood Azhar, implicated in every major anti-India terror attack, from the Parliament assault to Pulwama. While Islamabad denies sheltering him, intelligence reports place Masood in Bahawalpur, under military guard near a mosque and hospital. With new digital funding channels and ISI protection, Masood remains untouchable, though Indian agencies are determined to neutralize him.
The subcontinent stands on the brink of escalation. With terror funding migrating to digital platforms and state complicity deepening, the threat of digital jihad looms large. India’s successful Operation Sindoor delivered a severe blow, but Pakistan’s pivot to crypto and crowdfunding signals a dangerous new phase in global terrorism, one where technology, ideology, and geopolitics intersect.
