The Faridabad module, connected to a car bomb blast in Delhi last year, has alerted Indian security agencies to the rise of white-collar terrorism. Unlike previous cases, this network, led by medical professionals, operated on a larger scale. Similarly, the Nashik module, involving IT professionals and an HR manager, focused on conversion and radicalization.
Intelligence sources suggest a trend towards recruiting white-collar operatives among terror groups. These individuals, with expertise in encrypted platforms, can operate discreetly and independently. Both modules, active for several years, underscore the need to reevaluate counterterrorism strategies to combat this evolving threat effectively.
Terror groups are increasingly relying on white-collar operatives for radicalization and attacks. The use of encrypted applications and secure communication channels by these modules enables them to function covertly. While recent crackdowns have shed light on these activities, Pakistan-based terror outfits have long invested in cultivating networks of white-collar operatives.
Efforts to radicalize individuals start at schools and colleges, with funding support provided for education abroad. The returnees are expected to influence others and expand these networks. The ISI’s strategy involves expanding the number of modules rather than direct coordination among them. The emphasis on white-collar operatives by groups like the Islamic State and Al-Qaeda is likely to continue.
