The arrest of Sanaul Islam, identified as a member of the Islamic State Khorasan Province (ISKP), in Afghanistan’s Kandahar province has highlighted an alarming trend in the involvement of Indian nationals in terrorism, especially in Afghanistan. The incident raised serious questions about the Indian presence in Afghanistan and its links with terrorist organizations like ISKP. Sanaul Islam’s arrest adds to a growing number of cases implicating India in regional terrorism, a matter of grave concern to neighboring countries, especially Pakistan.
The presence of Indian nationals as part of terrorist organizations in Afghanistan is not an isolated phenomenon. In October 2023, two Indian nationals were arrested in Karnataka for their links to another terrorist organization, the Pakistan Taliban (TTP). These incidents are indicative of a broader trend of India emerging as a hotbed of terrorism, with its citizens being exported to take part in terrorist activities in regional countries. This development is alarming and requires a thorough investigation into the factors contributing to this trend.
The involvement of Indian nationals in terrorism and their links with International Terrorist Organizations (ITO) has been substantiated by various media reports. Allegations have emerged suggesting that India’s foreign intelligence agency, the Research and Analysis Wing (RAW), actively recruits vulnerable Indian nationals, particularly from the Muslim community. These individuals are reportedly being sent to Afghanistan to join terrorist organizations such as ISKP, TTP, and Al-Qaeda (AQ) for the purpose of planning and supporting terrorist activities in Pakistan. This represents a major change in the pattern of regional terrorism and suggests that the Indian state is involved in supporting and expanding terrorist activities against neighboring countries.
The case of Mohammad Zoheb Khan, a leading member of India’s ISKP, further highlights the depth of this problem. Khan identified his handler as Abu Ahmad, a man based in Afghanistan who was involved in maintaining contacts with sleeper cells and recruiting ISIS in India. Furthermore, the killing of Abu Usman al-Qasimiri, an Indian national and ISKP’s first Ameer, in Afghanistan in January 2023 highlights the direct involvement of Indian nationals in the terrorist organization’s leadership. ing. These incidents demonstrate a structured network of cross-border terrorist recruitment and operations involving Indian nationals and the Indian state being involved in these activities.
India’s role in fostering terrorism under state auspices and weaponizing it using its newfound global relevance poses significant challenges to regional security. Using Tajikistan’s territory as a transit route for terrorists entering Afghanistan not only jeopardizes Tajikistan’s sovereignty but also poses a broader regional security threat. This strategy of exploiting the territory of neighboring countries for terrorist purposes reflects a deliberate policy to destabilize the region and project power through non-state actors.
The implications of Indian nationals’ involvement in terrorism and ties to terrorist groups in Afghanistan are far-reaching. This not only complicates the security situation in South Asia, but also raises questions about the role of the international community in countering state-sponsored terrorism. The pattern of involvement of Indian nationals in terrorist activities and organizations in the region suggests a systematic approach to using terrorism as a foreign policy tool with significant implications for peace and stability in the region.
The international community, particularly South Asian countries, needs to recognize these trends and work together to address the root causes of terrorism. This includes not only countering violent extremism and disrupting terrorist networks, but also addressing the political and economic grievances that often fuel terrorism. Additionally, a concerted effort is needed to hold states accountable for their role in supporting and abetting terrorism as a means of achieving geopolitical objectives.
Finally, the arrest of Sanaul Islam and other Indian nationals for their involvement in terrorism in Afghanistan highlights a worrying trend that has serious implications for regional security. Evidence of Indian nationals participating in terrorist activities and alleged Indian state support for such groups suggests a deliberate strategy to destabilize the region. This situation calls for a comprehensive response from the international community aimed at addressing the root causes of terrorism and holding countries that support and propagate terrorist activities accountable. The challenge of terrorism in South Asia is a complex and multifaceted problem that requires a united and determined effort to overcome.
