At least two incidents in 2026, including an explosion in Bhubaneswar’s Sundarapada locality that killed two people and the arrest of Sheik Imran from the same city for conspiring to wage war against India in a separate incident, highlight more than isolated security breaches.
Mauritius, an African island nation known for its multiethnic and multicultural society, is increasingly grappling with Islamist extremism. Islamist preacher and activist Javed Meetoo—also known by his Arabic nom de guerre, Abu Junaya—is central to this dynamic. His rhetoric and activities demonstrate how transnational jihadist ideas can become influential even in historically peaceful and diverse countries, such as Mauritius.
Bangladesh, once hailed as a model for development in South Asia, now finds itself at a critical juncture. The recent political upheaval and the shift in power dynamics have set the stage for a potentially volatile future. The resignation of Sheikh Hasina, one of the most influential political figures in the country’s history, has left a void that could be filled by forces threatening to destabilize the nation. This commentary seeks to explore the underlying causes of the current situation, the implications of the recent developments, and the challenges ahead for Bangladesh.
Abstract: Despite government denials, Bangladesh has increasingly become fertile ground for al-Qa`ida and the Islamic State. Both groups have taken advantage of an upsurge in Islamist militancy in the country over anger at the execution of Islamist political leaders in 2013, and both hope to expand their footprint there by building alliances with local groups. Bangladeshi police suspect the Bangladeshi wing of al-Qa`ida in the Indian Subcontinent (AQIS), which has claimed a series of attacks on secular bloggers, is liaising with top leadership of the terrorist network in Pakistan.
Afghanistan struggles for stability in the face of a splintered Taliban and a growing Islamic StateAUTHOR: Animesh Roul