New Delhi: The recent busting of an Al Qaeda module in Gujarat has reignited concerns over the terror group’s ambitions in India. The Gujarat Anti-Terrorism Squad (ATS) arrested four individuals—Mohd Faiq, Mohd Fardeen, Sefullah Kureshi, and Zeeshan Ali—for promoting Al Qaeda’s ideology and running a counterfeit currency racket to fund the banned organization once led by Osama bin Laden.
Preliminary investigations revealed that the accused were using auto-deleting apps to erase any traces of communication, complicating tracking efforts.
This successful crackdown is significant as Al Qaeda in the Indian Subcontinent (AQIS) has long viewed Gujarat as a key area in its operational plans. Security agencies believe the ISI may leverage AQIS to escalate operations in India, particularly after Operation Sindoor—a mission launched to retaliate for the Pahalgam terror attack.
Formed in 2014 under Ayman Al Zawahiri, AQIS initially focused heavily on India, with its first chief, Asim Umar, being of Indian origin. His strategy involved expanding Al Qaeda’s presence in Jammu and Kashmir, Gujarat, and India’s northeastern states.
AQIS made its intentions toward India clear when it issued a statement urging Indian Muslims to wage a jihad against what it termed the “Bhagwa regime” in response to attacks on mosques and Muslim communities in Pakistan. The timing of this statement—following Operation Sindoor—suggests growing ISI interest in using AQIS as a proxy force in India, especially while other terror outfits like Jaish-e-Mohammad and Lashkar-e-Taiba remain weakened.
Although AQIS lacks the manpower and strength of some other groups, Indian security agencies warn that its ideological reach surpasses that of the Islamic State, Jaish-e-Mohammad, or Lashkar-e-Taiba. Many still idolize Osama bin Laden, giving AQIS a broader appeal among certain radical elements. After Asim Umar’s death, AQIS intensified its anti-India stance, even launching a magazine titled Nawa-Ghazwatul Hind (“Voice of the Battle for India”).
Al Qaeda’s interest in India is not new. The roots can be traced back to the time David Headley, a key figure in the 26/11 Mumbai attacks, was in Pakistan. He met Ilyas Kashmiri—chief of Al Qaeda’s 313 Brigade—who had envisioned terror strikes in Gujarat, Mumbai, and Uttar Pradesh. Headley had also conducted surveillance in Delhi and Pune ahead of the attacks.
Tahawwur Rana, recently extradited to India in connection with the Mumbai attacks, had previously visited several Indian cities, including Ahmedabad, Delhi, Kochi, Agra, Hapur, and Mumbai. Authorities suspect his travels were part of a broader recruitment drive tied to Ilyas Kashmiri’s “Ghazwa-e-Hind” vision, seeking operatives from Kerala, Gujarat, and other Indian regions.
Meanwhile, in a parallel development, Assam Police also dismantled an Al Qaeda module. Investigations revealed that the suspects had links with the Bangladeshi terror outfit, Ansarullah Bangla Team, and were planning attacks across the northeastern states.
Al Qaeda’s strategic pivot toward India became evident in 2020 when it renamed its Urdu-language magazine from Nawa-i-Afghan Jihad to Nawaz-i-Ghazwa-e-Hind, signaling a shift in focus. Its expansion has included recruiting illegal Bangladeshi immigrants in India. The National Investigation Agency (NIA) arrested 53 people—many of them Bangladeshis—for their involvement in an AQIS cell.
The worsening law and order situation in Bangladesh adds to India’s security woes. Most Bangladeshi terror outfits now align more closely with Al Qaeda than with the Islamic State. The ISI is reportedly exploiting this situation to bolster AQIS-led operations along the India-Bangladesh border.
Within Bangladesh, the ISI has been pushing Al Qaeda to work alongside groups like Jamaat-e-Islami, Hefazat-e-Islam, Hizb ut-Tahrir, and Ansarullah Bangla Team. Security experts express concern that the interim head of Bangladesh’s caretaker government, Muhammad Yunus, has largely ignored the threat, allowing these groups to operate unchecked.
With inputs from IANS