let us not fall prey to the counsel of our fears but resolve to take the bull by the horns. There is a need for a national counter-terror policy backed by a national counter-terror force. Also, our intelligence network has to be strengthened
The most sensational headline-making activity of the Al Qaeda after 9/11 has been the formation of the Qaedat-al-Jihad or Al Qaeda in Indian sub-continent. This sensational announcement was made in a video released by the terrorist organisation by its chief Ayman al-Zawahiri. The wing has been formed with the sinister aim of extending its reach into South Asia with particular focus on India. Zawahiri said it was to “help raise the flag of jihad and the return of the Islamic rule in the sub-continent, which one day used to be part of the land of the Muslims until the infidel enemy took it over and divided it”. He further described the raising of AQIS for ‘rescuing’ the Muslims of Burma, Bangladesh, Assam, Gujarat and Kashmir. Zawahiri also appointed Maulana Asim Umar, a Pakistani, as head of the South Asia wing. Al Qaeda is known world over to operate through its region specific branches or franchise. It has long list of wings and indirect affiliates: Al Qaeda in the Islamic Maghreb, Al Shabaab in Somalia, Al Qaeda in Arabian Peninsula, al Nusra Front in Syria, Egyptian Islamic Jihad. Its affiliates include the Islamic Movement of Uzbekistan, Caucasus Emirate, East Turkestan Islamic Movement, Taliban, Jaish-e-Mohammed, Fatah al-Islam, lashkar-e-Tayyeba, Moroccan Islamic Combatant Group and a few more in Africa.
By forming the AQIS, it has extended its global reach in order to raise the flag of jihad in the Indian sub-continent as well.
Another global terror and jihadi organisation, the ISIS or what is now known as the Islamic State, too is making inroads in India. Though much younger and newer as compared to the Al Qaeda, it is spreading its wings rapidly. Its swift and sensational victory in Syria and Iraq leading to the declaration of a caliphate has motivated many young minds all over the globe to join the global jihad. It is exploiting the social media to scare the opponents,radicalise young minds and invite bloodthirsty new recruits from all over the world. Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi alias Caliph Ibrahim views India as a fertile ground for recruitment. An IS recruitment video, sub-titled in three Indian languages — Urdu, Hindi and Tamil — is already active on social media. The photos of young men waving IS flags in Kashmir and Tamil Nadu have also been posted on social media. The content of the letter written by a young jihadi from Mumbai who was recently killed in an air strike in Mosul, Iraq, is also indicative of the impact of social media in radicalising the youth. While explaining reasons for his move from comforts of his home to Iraq to fight alongside the IS, he wrote, “It is blessed journey for me because I don’t want to live in this sinful country”. The alleged efforts of dreaded underworld don Dawood Ibrahim to facilitate the entry of Boko Haram to India have also been reported in the media. Boko Haram is a Nigeria- based Salafi-jihadi terror group and is an affiliate of the Al Qaeda in Islamic Maghreb. The threat from home-grown jihadis who have international links is also looming large.
Many pundits and analysts have dismissed the announcement of Zawahiri as a desperate attempt by the Al Qaeda to raise the sagging morale of its fast dwindling cadre and ensure that it is not marginalised by the rapidly growing, stronger and richer Islamic State. While the IS is attracting foreign jihadis, Al Qaeda’s ranks as well as coffers are drying up.
Analysts also feel that it hurts Zawahiri’s ego when other jihadi leaders heap praise on al-Baghdadi who has declared himself as Caliph over Mullah Omar of Taliban and demanded allegiance from Muslims all over the world. They see it as a turf war between the two siblings till very recently.
It is also argued that India is not a fragmented and unstable nation unlike Iraq, libya, Yemen, Syria or Somalia, where the Al Qaeda has managed to make inroads. They also argue that their ideology of sectarianism and extreme violence will not be acceptable to Indian Muslims and would not work in India.
Is it a mere coincidence or part of a grand strategy that India found a mention in al-Baghdadi’s Ramzan message; Syed Salahuddin around the same time invited foreign jihadis to liberate Kashmir; Maulana Asim Umar released a video promising a “caravan” of “heroic martyrs” coming from Afghanistan to “liberate Kashmir”; India’s most wanted terrorist and hate-monger Hafiz Saeed went about making hate-India speeches in the lahore High Court and areas opposite Rajasthan and Gujarat; and the Al Qaeda sounded the bugle of ghazwa-e-Hind soon followed by Zawahiri’s callIJ
It will also be naïve to remain under the notion that the jihadi culture will not find favour with Indian Muslims. Undoubtedly, there are many enlightened and forward-looking Indian Muslims who believe in moderate main-stream Islam. They want to be equal partners in enjoying the fruits of a growing economy and a modern, developed India. They abhor barbaric jihadi groups like the Al Qaeda, the IS and the Boko Haram.
But there is no denying the fact that there is a sizable part of the community that has been radicalised and are believers of Wahhabi-Salafi and Takfiri ideology-cum-philosophy.
let us not fall prey to the counsel of our fears but resolve to take the bull by the horns. There is a need for a national counter-terror policy backed by a national counter-terror force. Also, our intelligence network has to be strengthened alongside.
(The writer is a retired Indian Army officer)