south-asian-militant-groups-and-global-jihad-in-2015
south-asian-militant-groups-and-global-jihad-in-2015
south-asian-militant-groups-and-global-jihad-in-2015
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QUILL IAM<br />
PART 2<br />
GLOBAL JIHADIST FORCES IN SOUTH ASIA<br />
Build<strong>in</strong>g on the analysis of the aforementioned Islamist terrorist <strong>groups</strong> <strong>in</strong><br />
J&K, Pakistan, Afghanistan <strong>and</strong> India, Part 2 of this report will explore the<br />
<strong>in</strong>fluence of the “<strong>global</strong> <strong>jihad</strong>ist” network that is be<strong>in</strong>g propagated by IS<br />
throughout South Asia, <strong>and</strong> it will analyse the role of IS as an ‘ideological<br />
destabiliser’ with<strong>in</strong> the region. In this section, particular attention will be<br />
paid to the relationship between Al-Qaeda <strong>and</strong> IS with<strong>in</strong> Afghanistan <strong>and</strong><br />
Pakistan. The implications of this chang<strong>in</strong>g power dynamic for the security<br />
of South Asia will be explored. Furthermore, Al-Qaeda’s newest branch, Al-<br />
Qaeda <strong>in</strong> the Indian subcont<strong>in</strong>ent (AQIS) will be <strong>in</strong>troduced.<br />
Introduction<br />
Global <strong>jihad</strong>, i.e. the <strong>jihad</strong>ist aim of creat<strong>in</strong>g a <strong>global</strong> caliphate, is a galvaniz<strong>in</strong>g<br />
force beh<strong>in</strong>d <strong>jihad</strong>ist recruitment <strong>and</strong> radicalization. However, while current<br />
<strong>jihad</strong>ist movements are becom<strong>in</strong>g <strong>in</strong>creas<strong>in</strong>gly <strong>global</strong>ized, they do not<br />
represent an ideologically unified or coord<strong>in</strong>ated force. The <strong>global</strong> caliphate<br />
is a primary <strong>and</strong> strategic objective dur<strong>in</strong>g periods when a charismatic <strong>global</strong><br />
<strong>jihad</strong>ist leader or force makes it appear tangible. This report ma<strong>in</strong>ta<strong>in</strong>s that<br />
while <strong>global</strong> actors such as IS <strong>and</strong> AQ profoundly impact the security<br />
situation <strong>in</strong> South Asia, “<strong>global</strong> <strong>jihad</strong>” is not an irreversible m<strong>in</strong>d-set. When<br />
local concerns loom large, so do opportunities for counter-radicalization <strong>and</strong><br />
counter-narrative strategies at the local level.<br />
I S as an ide o logi cal de s t a b i liser<br />
Given that there is a regional precedent of <strong>jihad</strong>ist <strong>groups</strong> act<strong>in</strong>g as proxy<br />
forces, either for states, or for organizations that act as ideological “br<strong>and</strong>s”<br />
such as the Taliban or Pakistani Taliban, the security implications of the<br />
<strong>global</strong> <strong>jihad</strong>ist (<strong>and</strong> particularly IS) presence should be considered as an<br />
“ideological destabiliser” rather than a coord<strong>in</strong>ated force. It is important to<br />
keep <strong>in</strong> m<strong>in</strong>d that high levels of propag<strong>and</strong>a released by IS may exaggerate<br />
their range of <strong>in</strong>fluence, <strong>and</strong> that IS has a precedent of accept<strong>in</strong>g <strong>in</strong>ternational<br />
pledges of affiliation, even without practical mutual support (as <strong>in</strong> the case<br />
of Boko Haram). As a result, <strong>militant</strong>s adopt<strong>in</strong>g their ‘br<strong>and</strong>’ are able to ga<strong>in</strong><br />
symbolic power, <strong>and</strong> this can provide momentum to their cause that<br />
subsequently exacerbates security concerns for <strong>in</strong>ternational government<br />
agencies. This must not be read as downplay<strong>in</strong>g the security concerns IS<br />
presents. Its ideological <strong>in</strong>fluence risks <strong>in</strong>vigorat<strong>in</strong>g a sectarian <strong>jihad</strong>ist<br />
cause, <strong>and</strong> <strong>in</strong>spir<strong>in</strong>g fighters to mimic its notoriously violent tactics.<br />
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