Al Qaeda in the Subcontinent (AQIS) is leveraging the conflict in Iran as a recruitment tool in Jammu and Kashmir. The terror group has identified countries like India, the United States, Israel, the United Kingdom, France, and Spain as adversaries of Islam. AQIS is urging the youth in Jammu and Kashmir to unite against these nations, emphasizing Kashmir as the focal point for Jihad.
The AQIS, through its Urdu propaganda magazine, is advocating for prioritizing religion over development among Kashmiri youth. Expressing disappointment over the lack of protest post the abrogation of Article 370, the group underscores the importance of religious allegiance. Despite its establishment in 2014 in Afghanistan, AQIS has struggled to gain momentum, particularly in Jammu and Kashmir.
AQIS envisions Jammu and Kashmir as the starting point for Ghazwa-e-Hind, aiming for a broader movement across India. While the group’s efforts to establish modules have not yielded desired results, it is banking on exploiting the Iran conflict to incite anti-Islam sentiments and attract more youth to its cause. Security agencies are closely monitoring AQIS’s attempts to reignite the separatist narrative around Article 370 in Jammu and Kashmir.
Efforts are underway to revive extremist groups like Hizbul Mujahideen, Jaish-e-Mohammed, and Lashkar-e-Taiba in the Valley. Despite facing challenges in executing their plans, these groups are focusing on spreading misinformation and fostering separatist ideologies in Jammu and Kashmir.
