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News18
08-05-2025
- Politics
- News18
Operation Sindoor: What Is 'Jihad fi Sabilillah' Al-Qaeda Has Threatened India With?
Last Updated: 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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First Post
08-05-2025
- Politics
- First Post
Al-Qaeda defends Pakistan's terror campaign, parrots Asim Munir's narrative
The statement from AQIS comes after India launched 'Operation Sindoor' against terror camps in Pakistan following the terrorist attack in Pahalgam, which resulted in the deaths of 26 mostly Hindu tourists read more In line with Pakistan's inflammatory religious rhetoric, Al-Qaeda in the Indian Subcontinent (AQIS) on Wednesday (May 7) issued a statement condemning Operation Sindoor and called for a renewed jihad across the subcontinent. The terrorist group also called on the Muslims of the subcontinent to 'rise up in support of oppressed people'. It alleged that the 'Bhagwa' government of PM Narendra Modi was 'waging a multifaceted campaign to eliminate Islam.' '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,' the AQIS said in a statement. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD The statement comes after India launched 'Operation Sindoor' against terror camps in Pakistan following the terrorist attack in Pahalgam, which resulted in the deaths of 26 mostly Hindu tourists. This operation, named 'Operation Sindoor,' targeted and successfully destroyed nine terrorist camps. Reports indicate that over 100 trained terrorists were killed, significantly disrupting the core of the jihadist networks that are supported by Pakistan. Among the sites targeted was Markaz Taiba, often described as the ideological and operational nerve centre of Lashkar-e-Taiba. The facility was also partly funded by Osama bin Laden, who reportedly donated Rs 10 million to build a mosque and guest house within the complex. Inflammatory rhetoric aligns with Pakistan state's narrative The inflammatory rhetoric pushed by the AQIS aligns with Pakistan's official narrative against India, often targeting Hindus and their tradition. Engulfed in a military crisis with India, an isolated Pakistan is now relying on religious rhetoric to gather support domestically as well as among the Islamic world. Ahead of the Pahalgam attack, Pakistan Army Chief General Asim Munir had fuelled the debate around the two-nation theory in a speech. In his speech, Munir stated that Pakistanis are 'fundamentally different from Hindus in religion, culture, traditions, thoughts, and ambitions.' 'You have to narrate Pakistan's story to your children so that they don't forget it when our forefathers thought we were different from Hindus in every possible aspect of life,' Munir said. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD Not just the army chief but a similar rhetoric has also been fuelled by Pakistani politicians. Recently, Pakistani Senator Palwasha Mohammad Zai Khan declared the 'first brick of the new mosque' in Ayodhya 'will be laid by Pakistani soldiers'. Ayodhya is where India inaugurated a grand Ram temple last year. 'The first brick of the new Babri mosque in Ayodhya will be laid by Pakistan Army soldiers, and the first azaan will be given by Army Chief Asim Munir himself,' said the senator. Her comments drew a massive backlash from users on social media.
