Al-Qaeda adopts pan-Islamist strategy to expand in India and subcontinent

Al-Qaeda is attempting to expand its influence across India and the broader subcontinent through its regional arm, Al-Qaeda in the Sub-Continent (AQIS). According to security officials, the group is adopting a pan-Islamist strategy designed to build tactical ties across sectarian lines and encourage existing terror outfits to create splinter groups.

This shift toward a more inclusive ideological appeal aims to avoid the direct opposition to specific sects that hindered previous efforts. Analysts suggest Al-Qaeda is attempting to replicate its successful model in Africa, where it avoided declaring war on local sub-sects to forge stronger ties with regional groups. This approach stands in contrast to the Islamic State, whose more exclusionary tactics and opposition to various sects are viewed as having limited its dominance in the region.