It seems the dust has settled over a limited war between India and Pakistan, even as Pakistan is getting ready to take full advantage of US President Donald Trump’s statements by calling for “comprehensive” dialogue on Kashmir. The Ministry of External Affairs has categorically said that no such dialogue would take place, unless it was on terrorism or Pakistan-Occupied Kashmir. That’s that, though these are all opening shots.
Meanwhile, there is a worrying development that few have taken note of. The so-called Al Qaeda in the Indian subcontinent (AQIS) declared in English and Urdu that all Muslims were obliged to launch a ‘holy war’ against the ‘Bhagwa’ regime in India for targeting mosques and ‘settlements’ in Pakistan. That’s worrying. After all, the group, after virtually disappearing from the terrorist scene, now seems to have decided to make a comeback, entirely in support of Pakistan.
The AQIS Revives Again
Al Qaeda in the Indian subcontinent (AQIS) is a curious group. It was formed in 2014, apparently on the command of the then Al Qaeda leader Ayman Al Zawahiri, and was led by Asim Umar. Its clear objectives were to hit American and Pakistani forces. However, after Umar was killed in a joint operation with the US in 2019, the group turned mysteriously against India, and away from Pakistan. It even launched a new magazine, the Nawa- Ghazwatul – Hind (Voice of the Battle for India).
That was puzzling. Nothing much was heard about the group or its activities, until the National Investigation Agency (NIA) arrested some 53 people from Assam – some of them Bangladeshis – in 2022. A whole network was unearthed, including madrassas and several teachers, apart from specific modules, all of which pointed to a long-term plan to raise insurrection in the east of India. This was linked to the Ansarullah Bangla group in Bangladesh.
In July 2024, the UN Sanctions Committee report observed close proximity between the Tehrik-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) and the AQIS, sharing camps and training, and carrying out attacks under the name of Tehreek-e-Jihad Pakistan. It also added that the Taliban was another supporting body.
