Security agencies have flagged a significant shift in South India's terror landscape: operatives linked to both Al Qaeda and the Islamic State (IS) are increasingly working in tandem to radicalise youth online, according to officials familiar with ongoing investigations. The development, emerging from probes by agencies including the National Investigation Agency (NIA), marks a departure from the historically adversarial relationship between the two groups.

What Investigators Have Found

Though Al Qaeda and the Islamic State have long been ideological and operational rivals globally, officials say their handlers in South India appear to have concluded that internal competition undermines their shared goal. According to an Intelligence Bureau official, the two groups 'have increasingly chosen to cooperate in their radicalisation efforts' given that their long-term objective — the establishment of an Islamic State — is identical.

A key indicator surfaced in Andhra Pradesh, where police registered a case against one Rehmatullah Sharif. Investigators seized material linked to both Islamic State and Al Qaeda ideologies, suggesting the accused was propagating both outfits simultaneously. 'The only difference is the banner,' an official said, adding that handlers have 'decided to push their ideologies simultaneously so that the reach is wider and the chance of more youth getting radicalised is higher.'

States in the Crosshairs

Online radicalisation networks have primarily targeted Karnataka, Telangana, Tamil Nadu, Kerala, and Andhra Pradesh, with influence also extending to parts of Maharashtra, according to officials. Within this geography, the two groups have carved out informal zones: Al Qaeda has reportedly established a stronger presence in Telangana and Andhra Pradesh, while the Islamic State has gained greater traction across the rest of South India.

The PFI Vacuum and the Opportunity It Created

The coordinated push is directly linked to the ban on the Popular Front of India (PFI), which left a significant vacuum in South India's radical network. Security agencies say both Al Qaeda and the Islamic State have been attempting to establish a foothold in the region since 2015, initially operating independently before shifting toward coordinated efforts. Officials believe a united front was seen as strategically superior — not only to maximise reach but also to confuse security agencies tracking module affiliations.

'Pushing the ideology of both groups through one module would also confuse the security agencies,' an official noted, adding that the strategy 'would not only help keep Indian agencies guessing, but also ensure that its footprint spreads across South India.'

Al-Badr's Parallel Revival Attempt

This development coincides with reported attempts by Al-Badr — whose top leadership is based in Pakistan — to stage a comeback in South India. Intelligence agencies have reportedly intercepted communications relating to an Al-Badr revival, with South India identified as a primary focus. The group has been aligning with outfits such as Jaish-e-Mohammed, according to officials, and Pakistan's ISI has reportedly attempted to consolidate Al-Badr with both Jaish-e-Mohammed and Hizbul Mujahideen for operations in Jammu and Kashmir. A prior attempt by Al-Badr to re-enter South India in 2007, focused on Coastal Karnataka, is said to have failed.

What Security Agencies Are Watching

Officials say the convergence of two globally rival terror networks under a single radicalisation module is an unprecedented challenge for counter-terror operations in the region. The strategy, as described by officials, is designed to both widen the recruitment funnel and fragment the intelligence picture. Agencies are expected to intensify monitoring of online platforms used for recruitment, particularly in states where the PFI's dismantling left organisational networks without a central node.