Is Al Qaeda's Revival Plan Unfolding from Gujarat to Assam?

New Delhi, June 23 (NationPress) The recent dismantling of an Al Qaeda terror network in Gujarat signals the organization’s renewed ambitions in India. The Gujarat Anti-Terrorist Squad (ATS) apprehended Mohd Faiq, Mohd Fardeen, Sefullah Kureshi, and Zeeshan Ali for disseminating the group’s ideology and operating a counterfeit currency scheme to fund this outlawed organization, formerly led by Osama bin Laden.

Initial investigations indicate that the suspects utilized auto-deleting applications to erase any evidence of their communications.

This operation marks a significant victory for security agencies as the Al Qaeda in the Sub-Continent (AQIS) harbors its most ambitious plans in Gujarat. The disruption of this network is crucial, especially as Indian authorities claim the ISI may leverage the AQIS to enhance its operations in India following Operation Sindoor, executed in retaliation for the Pahalgam attack.

Formed in 2014 under Ayman Al Zawahiri's leadership, the AQIS has primarily targeted India. Its leader, Asim Umar, an individual of Indian descent, concentrated the group’s efforts on Jammu and Kashmir, Gujarat, and the northeastern states as part of its expansion strategy.

The AQIS’s intentions for India became evident when it proclaimed that all Indian Muslims must engage in a holy war against the “Bhagwa regime” for its actions against mosques and settlements in Pakistan. This declaration, made post-Operation Sindoor, underscored the ISI's desire for this group to intensify its activities in India, particularly at a time when it appeared the AQIS was losing influence.

Indeed, the statement served as a tactical maneuver to openly back Pakistan. As the country requires additional time to restore the capabilities of groups like Jaish-e-Mohammad and Lashkar-e-Taiba, which faced significant losses from Indian armed forces, the AQIS could be utilized to bridge that gap.

Security assessments indicate that while the AQIS may not be as potent as it claims, its ideological reach in India surpasses that of the Islamic State, Jaish-e-Mohammad, or Lashkar-e-Taiba. Many still idolize Osama bin Laden, contributing to its broader influence. Following Umar’s death, the AQIS has intensified its aggression towards India, launching a publication named Nawa-Ghazwatul Hind (Voice of the Battle for India).

Al Qaeda’s aspirations for India are not novel; they trace back to when David Headley was in Pakistan, prior to the planning of the 26/11 attacks. He conferred with Ilyas Kashmiri, leader of Al Qaeda's 313 Brigade, to strategize terror attacks in Gujarat, Mumbai, and Uttar Pradesh. During reconnaissance for the Mumbai assault, Headley even scouted Delhi and Pune.

Tahawwur Rana, an accused in the Mumbai 26/11 incident recently extradited to India, had previously visited Ahmedabad, Delhi, Kochi, Agra, Hapur, and Mumbai. Investigators suspect he may have advanced his agenda under the direction of his Pakistani handlers. Rana’s travels coincided with Ilyas Kashmiri's call for recruits from regions like Kerala and Gujarat for his ambitious Ghazwa-e-Hind initiative.

While a module was dismantled in Gujarat, authorities in Assam also disrupted a terror group. These alleged Al Qaeda members were reportedly coordinating with the Bangladeshi group, Ansarullah Bangla Team, to execute terrorist activities in the northeastern region.

Initially, Al Qaeda's focus was on Afghanistan, but in a surprising shift in 2020, it renamed its Urdu publication from Nawa-i-Afghan Jihad to Nawaz-i-Ghazwa-e-Hind. As it expands its influence in India, the group has recruited numerous illegal Muslim immigrants from Bangladesh. This was evident when the NIA arrested 53 individuals, including Bangladeshis, linked to an AQIS network.

The deteriorating law and order situation in Bangladesh exacerbates the problem. Many terror factions in Bangladesh lean more towards Al Qaeda than the Islamic State. The ISI may exploit this to enhance terror activities along the India-Bangladesh border.

In Bangladesh, the ISI has encouraged Al Qaeda to collaborate with other terror organizations, including Jamaat-e-Islami, Hefazat-e-Islam, Hizb ut-Tahrir, and Ansarullah Bangla Team. Compounding the issue is the negligence of the interim head of the caretaker government, Muhammad Yunus, allowing these groups to operate freely in Bangladesh.