New Delhi, March 10 – Al Qaeda in the Subcontinent (AQIS) has been using the conflict with Iran as a propaganda narrative to recruit in Jammu and Kashmir. AQIS has named several countries, which it views as anti-Islamic.
While naming countries such as India, the United States, Israel, the United Kingdom, France, and Spain as common enemies of Islam, AQIS is calling on the youth of Jammu and Kashmir to unite. The terrorist group says that Kashmir should be the central focus of Jihad. It also urged the youth to unite and begin the battle against these nations from Kashmir.
AQIS operates an Urdu propaganda magazine, and in its March edition, it has laid out a detailed plan as to how the youth of Kashmir should prioritize religion over development. The terrorist group has also expressed concern that the people of Kashmir did not protest or revolt enough after the Union Government decided to abrogate Article 370.
It details the Centre's efforts to develop Jammu and Kashmir and adds that the youth should not be distracted or forget that religion is above everything else. An official from the Intelligence Bureau said that AQIS, since its inception in 2014, has failed to gain traction. The group was established in Afghanistan with the primary intention of waging a battle in Jammu and Kashmir.
The group believes that the concept of Ghazwa-e-Hind, or the destruction of India, must begin in Jammu and Kashmir. It also cites the example of the Taliban, which fought against global powers on several occasions. Kashmir must be the gateway to Jihad, and this movement must spread across India, AQIS said.
An official said that AQIS is becoming desperate. It has set up its modules in many places, but they have not achieved the desired traction. It feels that it can exploit the conflict with Iran and project it as an anti-Islam campaign. This, it believes, will change the narrative in Jammu and Kashmir so that more youth take up arms.
According to another official, AQIS wants to make Kashmir the center for its activities. However, based on what the group has written in its propaganda magazine, it is clear that the group wants this movement to spread across the country.
Regarding whether such a massive plan can be executed, officials say that it would be difficult. However, what AQIS is trying to do is spread its propaganda. The idea is to constantly engage in propaganda and hope that it gains traction among the youth, the official added.
Security agencies are closely monitoring these developments. What is being monitored in particular is the push that AQIS is trying to make in the debate around Article 370. An official said that after the abrogation of the Article, the agencies made immense efforts to ensure that violence does not break out. It was crucial to curb the separatist movement, which had haunted Jammu and Kashmir for several years. AQIS is trying to ensure that the separatist mentality returns to the Union Territory, and hence the push to revive the debate around Article 370 is being made, officials say.
These terrorist groups have realized that reviving extremism and striking at Jammu and Kashmir at will are things of the past. Efforts are on in full swing to revive groups such as Hizbul Mujahideen, Jaish-e-Mohammed, and Lashkar-e-Taiba in the Valley. Since the attempts have not had much success, attempts are being made to spread a false narrative and bring back the separatist mindset in Jammu and Kashmir, officials say.