Operation Sindoor: What Is 'Jihad fi Sabilillah' Al-Qaeda Has Threatened India With?
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Al-Qaeda's alarm over Operation Sindoor is rooted in its long-standing ties with the terror groups Indian airstrikes targeted
India's recent airstrikes on terrorist hideouts inside Pakistan under Operation Sindoor have not only disrupted major terror outfits like Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT), Jaish-e-Mohammed (JeM), and Hizbul Mujahideen but also sent shockwaves through the ranks of Al-Qaeda. In the wake of the operation, Al-Qaeda's regional affiliate – Al-Qaeda in the Indian Subcontinent (AQIS) – issued a statement laced with threats, declaring a so-called 'Jihad fi Sabilillah' against India.
The statement, titled 'Indian Aggression on the land of Pakistan', was released by AQIS following the targeted bombing of terrorist locations in Pakistan and PoK on May 7, 2025. It accuses India of waging a long-running war against Islam, claiming the recent strikes are part of a broader pattern.
'For all the Mujahideen of Islam and the Muslims of the Subcontinent, this war against India is Jihad Fi Sabilillah. It is a duty upon us to engage in this struggle to raise the Word of Allah, defend Islam and Muslims, and support the oppressed people of The Subcontinent…. It is now more necessary than ever for the Muslims of the Subcontinent to rise up in support of these stances and objectives," AQIS said in a statement.
It said the airstrikes added another dark chapter to the long list of 'crimes committed by India", further alleging that India's actions have been ongoing 'for decades".
The Indian government, however, has consistently maintained that its operations target terrorism, not religion. Officials have emphasised that the airstrikes were aimed solely at terror infrastructure responsible for repeated attacks on civilians and security forces in India.
AQIS's invocation of 'Jihad fi Sabilillah' – which translates to 'struggle in the path of God" – is part of a broader trend where extremist groups distort Islamic principles to justify violence. While in traditional Islamic theology the term refers to personal and spiritual effort, terror groups like Al-Qaeda and ISIS have long misused it to legitimise armed conflict and terrorism.
Al-Qaeda's alarm over Operation Sindoor is rooted in its long-standing ties with the targeted groups. Lashkar-e-Taiba founder Hafiz Saeed trained in Afghanistan during the 1970s, where he developed connections with Osama bin Laden and other key Al-Qaeda figures. Another Lashkar operative, Arif Qasmani, played a crucial role in coordinating between Lashkar and Al-Qaeda.
Jaish-e-Mohammed chief Masood Azhar has also maintained close links with Al-Qaeda and the Taliban. Jaish fighters have trained and operated alongside Al-Qaeda terrorists in Afghanistan, especially in the aftermath of the 9/11 attacks, endorsing Al-Qaeda's broader jihadist agenda.
Hizbul Mujahideen, although primarily focused on the Kashmir conflict, has also drawn attention from Al-Qaeda, which frequently expresses ideological solidarity with jihad in Kashmir. While a direct operational link between Hizbul and Al-Qaeda is less clear, the ideological overlap remains a point of concern for security agencies.
India's strike appears to have not only dismantled physical infrastructure but also disrupted the strategic network connecting these organisations. The response from AQIS underscores the blow dealt to their regional ambitions, and signals the broader impact India's counter-terrorism campaign has had beyond its immediate borders.
First Published:
May 08, 2025, 16:16 IST
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