The Islamic State (IS) and its regional affiliates, such as Islamic State Khorasan Province (ISKP) and Islamic State Hind Province (ISHP) and their local units, have been persistently threatening India through ideological propagation, online recruitment, and localized terror conspiracies for over a decade now. This brief provides an overview of Islamic State-related activities in India in 2025, assessing the evolving nature of IS operations in the region.

The recent dismantling of Al Qaeda in the Indian Subcontinent (AQIS) modules across India has revealed a meticulously crafted strategy aimed at embedding extremist networks within the country. With a focus on decentralized operations, targeted recruitment, and grassroots radicalization exploiting local vulnerabilities, AQIS seeks to establish its Pan-India terror networks, mostly in remote places, to destabilize the country while advancing its violent jihadist ideology.

The seeming resurgence of the Pro-Islamic State jihadist unit Ansar-ut Tawheed fi Bilad Al-Hind (hereafter AuT) through its media arm, Al-Isabah Media, represents a heightened threat to India's internal security and communal harmony. Al-Isabah's recent propaganda campaigns using AI tools and social media leverage sophisticated messaging, historical narratives, and sectarian incitement to radicalize vulnerable segments of Indian society.

Executive Summary: Islamist groups, including al-Qaeda in the Indian Subcontinent (AQIS), Islamic State in Khorasan Province (ISKP), and Islamic State in Hind Province (ISHP), attempted to destabilize India during the legislative elections from April to June with threats, anti-Hindu/anti-democratic propaganda, and terrorist attacks. Most of these efforts were foiled, but collectively, the actions represented a large-scale attempt to destabilize Indian society.