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Al-Qaeda in the Indian subcontinent
1: The first emir of Al-Qaeda in the Subcontinent was Maulana Asim Umar.
2: Al-Qaeda in the Subcontinent has carried out operations in various countries such as Pakistan, Afghanistan, Bangladesh, and Kashmir.
1: Al-Sahab: The jihadist movement has been ongoing in the subcontinent for some time. From the perspective of al-Qaeda in the subcontinent, what are the aims and objectives of the jihadist movement?
Answer: At the same time, we see this movement as an extension of the blessed caravan of the Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan. We, as a group, are soldiers of the Islamic Emirate in Afghanistan. We consider the defense and support of the Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan to be among our foremost priorities. Our brothers are fighting in Afghanistan under the banner of the Islamic Emirate, praise be to God. We, as a group, call upon the Muslims of Pakistan and the subcontinent to come and participate, under the banner of the Emirate, in the blessed jihad to implement Sharia against the American alliance. Outside Afghanistan—in the subcontinent—we believe that one of the most important objectives of the jihadist movement is to stand against the enemies of the Islamic Emirate and establish a popular jihadist movement against them.
2: Al-Sahab: How does the base practically play its role in Kashmir?
Professor Osama Mahmoud: I would like to clarify a few points for our Kashmiri brothers. Among our convoy here in Khorasan were a number of mujahideen and migrants from occupied Kashmir, and they are still present, praise be to God. They originally migrated to Pakistan for jihad. However, when the Pakistani army changed its policy and forced them to abandon jihad and seek employment in Pakistan, these brave men, praise be to God, refused.
They were humiliated and chose to join al-Qaeda in Khorasan. They fought against the American coalition and continue to do so. Some of them were martyred in American airstrikes here, may God have mercy on them… But they still yearned for the Kashmir Valley, and began preparing them against India.
Answer: The list of these brothers is long, including ordinary mujahideen and commanders, some from Indian-occupied Kashmir and others from Pakistani-controlled Kashmir. Sheikh Engineer Ahsan Aziz, may God have mercy on him, was our teacher and mentor. I myself witnessed his tireless efforts to advance the work in Kashmir from Khorasan, and he succeeded in training a number of mujahideen. Likewise, Sheikh Ilyas Kashmiri, may God have mercy on him, was one of the most prominent leaders of the Kashmir jihad, and he continued to fight there. However, with the change in policy, the Pakistani army tried to stop Sheikh Ilyas. When he refused, they imprisoned and tortured him. Upon his release, he went directly to Khorasan and joined al-Qaeda. He then focused his attention on both fronts under al-Qaeda’s leadership. He fought against the American-led coalition, and God granted him success in carrying out many missions. He was mentioned in Sheikh Osama’s letters that were leaked from Abbottabad. Alongside this, he continued preparing for the Kashmir jihad front from Khorasan… and from there he carried out successful operations in India, praise be to God.
3: It is worth mentioning two types of differentiation here. The first differentiation occurred through the sedition of the Islamic State (ISIS), who continued to distort jihad. The sedition of ISIS acted as a magnet for corrupt individuals. When this sedition first emerged in Syria and Iraq, corrupt individuals from all corners of the world began pledging allegiance to it wherever they were found, whether in Pakistan, Khorasan, or Boko Haram in Nigeria. And whenever a pledge of allegiance came, we saw—may God protect us—that it was from someone who had already contributed to distorting jihad. Someone who did not respect the sanctity of Muslim blood and was not just in his dealings with other believers. Most of them were a disgrace to the reputation of jihad, and praise be to God, the ranks of jihad were cleansed of those who went to the Islamic State from Khorasan and Pakistan; they were none other than these very corrupt individuals.
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Disclaimer:-
Some of the information used in this article may reference historical documents, publications, or materials associated with Al-Qaeda and similar organizations. These sources are used strictly for research, academic analysis, and informational purposes only. The inclusion of such materials does not indicate support, endorsement, or promotion of any extremist ideology or organization. The purpose is solely to provide context, analysis, and a better understanding of the subject matter.
