It has been one month since the brutal Islamist terror attack in Pahalgam, Jammu and Kashmir (April 22, 2025), where civilians were deliberately targeted and killed after being asked their religion — a cold-blooded and calculated act of violence. The incident stands as yet another grim reminder of the enduring and well-orchestrated threat posed by Pakistan-based Islamist terror networks.
The issue brief provides an in-depth analysis of the 2025 India-Pakistan conflict, focusing on the strategic use of loitering munitions and Suppression of Enemy Air Defences (SEAD) in modern warfare. It examines the implications of the possible use of these technologies within the context of Operation Sindoor, which India launched in response to the Pahalagam terrorist attack, and the subsequent military exchanges between the two nations.
Recent jihadist propaganda materials from the so-called Al-Bengal Media, a seemingly unofficial Islamic State mouthpiece, suggest an intensified ideological push to establish a wilayat (province) in Bengal. These efforts, rooted in IS's broader ambitions to maintain its global foothold despite territorial losses in Iraq and Syria, warrant a closer examination. Is an Islamic State Bengal truly in the making, or are these just remnants of a dwindling jihadist movement struggling to stay relevant?
Poster Propaganda: A Renewed Push?
Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP), the leading jihadist group targeting the Pakistani state, has escalated its violent operations in 2024 and early 2025. The group's resurgence has been facilitated by its sanctuaries in Afghanistan, support from local militant factions, access to sophisticated arms and ammunition and last but not least, ideological and spiritual backing from the Afghan Taliban emirate.
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.
Israel faced a major setback on October 7, 2023, when Hamas-led Palestinian militant groups launched a successful attack. After this successful terror attack, many questions were raised concerning Israeli technological superiority and robust defence mechanisms in place. Despite Israel's technological superiority, Hamas managed to bypass these defences. The issue likely wasn't with the technology itself; the surveillance systems along the Israel-Palestine border were reportedly functioning as expected.
Following major crackdown on terrorists in the Kashmir Valley and the redeployment of troops from the southern Pir Panjal range to Ladakh due to the ongoing border standoff with China, terrorists have shifted their base from Kashmir to the Jammu region. This shift is particularly evident in areas such as Rajouri, Poonch, Doda, Kishtwar, and Kathua, where dense forests and steep mountains offer militants ample cover.
Executive Summary: On March 7, India’s Ministry of Home Affairs designated 41-year-old Kashmiri militant Mohammad Qasim Gujjar as a terrorist. Gujjar has been involved in multiple high-profile attacks, financed and supplied arms to terrorists, and is a major recruiter for the Pakistan-based Lashkar-e-Taiba. Gujjar has been especially effective at radicalizing relatives of deceased militants.
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