New Delhi: In a major security concern, Al Qaeda issues lone wolf call in India, signaling a dangerous shift in its strategy. The outfit’s India-focused wing, Al-Qaeda in the Indian Subcontinent (AQIS), urged followers to launch solo attacks, echoing the tactics of the Islamic State.
AQIS, formed in 2014 to target India, struggled for years to build networks in Uttar Pradesh, Delhi, and other northern states. Indian intelligence agencies consistently dismantled its local modules, forcing the group to adopt a more decentralised plan. Now, AQIS pushes individuals to act alone, making detection and prevention harder.
Recent arrests have exposed this change. The Maharashtra Anti-Terrorism Squad (ATS) detained Pune tech expert Zubair Hangargekar for his alleged AQIS links. Officers said he consumed extremist propaganda online and planned to attack independently.
Experts warn that Al Qaeda’s deep ideological presence in India makes this call especially dangerous. Despite losing leaders like Osama bin Laden and Ayman al-Zawahiri, the group has revived its influence through social media campaigns that glorify violence.
The outfit’s latest message urges followers to use trucks, knives, or even stones as weapons. Intelligence teams are intensifying cyber surveillance to trace radical content and identify potential threats.
Officials say Al Qaeda’s lone wolf call in India could embolden isolated extremists, reigniting homegrown terror risks across several states. Agencies now focus on disrupting online radicalisation networks before they turn violent.
–IANS
