The Islamic State – Hind Province[note 1] (ISHP) is the Indian branch of the Islamic State and is responsible for Islamic State activities in India, including Jammu and Kashmir. Islamic State activities in India and South Asia were initially under Islamic State – Khorasan Province, the Islamic State later began operating in India and Jammu and Kashmir through its Islamic State Jammu & Kashmir (ISJK/ISISJK) branch, which had begun in February 2016 but is currently an unrecognised faction.[1][2][3][4][5][6] The Islamic State – Khorasan Province anncouned the creation of Wilayah [Wilayat] al-Hind (India Province) for IS on 11 May 2019 on Amaq News Agency after clashes in Jammu and Kashmir in which ISJK leader Ishfaq Ahmad Sofi was killed.[7]
| Islamic State – Hind Province | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Leaders |
|
| Dates of operation | Active (since 2019) |
| Active regions | India (including Jammu and Kashmir) |
| Ideology |
|
| Part of |  Islamic State |
| Opponents |  India AQIS |
Shafi Armar, a former member of the Indian Mujahideen, was formerly the chief of operations for the IS in India.[8] He and his brother Sultan Armar founded the Indian ISIS affiliates Ansar-ut Tawhid fi Bilad al-Hind (transl. Supporters of Monotheism in the Land of India) and Janood-ul-Khalifa-e-Hind (transl. Caliph's Army of India).[9][10] Both he and his brother were killed in action during Syrian Civil War in 2015, which was only confirmed in 2019 because his online account was controlled by other militants in the group which added to the confusion.[11] Janood-ul-Khalifa-e-Hind has published the pro-IS propaganda magazine Sawt al-Hind (transl. Voice of India) since February 2020.[12]
On 20 March 2024, the special forces arrested the ISIS India chief, Haris Farooqi and one of his associates while they were trying to cross to India from neighbouring Bangladesh. Police explained that the suspects had planned many sabotage activities and IED attacks inside India.[13]
Incidents
editOn 9 August 2024, Rizwan Ali, an ISIS operative was arrested by the NIA while planning an attack in New Delhi.[14]
See also
edit- Territory of the Islamic State#India
- Foreign fighters in the Syrian Civil War and War in Iraq#India
- The Kerala Story, a 2022 Indian film about the ISIS in India
- Islamic State – Bengal Province, IS in Bangladesh
- Islamic State – Pakistan Province, IS in Pakistan
References
edit- ^ "Islamic State Jammu & Kashmir – (Islamic State / ISJK / ISISJK)". Terrorism Research and Analysis Consortium.
- ^ "Islamic State claims 'province' in India for first time after clash in Kashmir". Reuters.
- ^ "Islamic State in India: All Talk and No Action". jamestown.org. Retrieved 2024-06-17.
- ^ "ISIL claims 'province' in India, officials call it 'propaganda'". Al Jazeera. Retrieved 2024-06-17.
- ^ Katoch, Prakash (2019-05-13). "ISIS announces a 'province' in India". Asia Times. Retrieved 2024-06-17.
- ^ "Islamic State Announces 'Pakistan Province'". www.voanews.com. Retrieved 2024-06-20.
- ^ Islamic State claims province in India for first time after clash in Kashmir. Euronews.
- ^ "Shafi Armar: 26-year-old sought to set up ISIS module in every Indian state – Oneindia News". oneindia.com. 4 February 2016.
- ^ "Janood-ul-Khalifa-e-Hind / Army of Caliph of India (Islamic State India/ ISI / ISISI)". Terrorism Research and Analysis Consortium. Retrieved 20 August 2022.
- ^ "Ansar-ut Tawhid fi Bilad al-Hind (AuT)". Terrorism Research and Analysis Consortium. Retrieved 20 August 2022.
- ^ "Bhatkal's Armar brothers who ran the Indian Islamic State confirmed dead". Oneindia. Retrieved 23 March 2024.
- ^ Taneja, Kabir (16 April 2020). "Islamic State propaganda in India". Observer Research Foundation.
- ^ "ISIS India Head, Key Aide Arrested In Major Op In Assam's Dhubri". NDTV. Retrieved 2024-03-20.
- ^ "ISIS Terrorist With Rs 3 Lakh Bounty Arrested In Delhi, Charged Under UAPA". NDTV. Retrieved 2024-08-09.
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