Jihadist Radicalisation in India: Internal Challenges, External Threats

The Indian strategic community has for long debated aspects of jihadist radicalisation in the country—particularly over its origins, causes, extent, trajectory and possible counter-measures. This article posits that in the absence of clear perspectives, the incipient threat of jihadist radicalisation has the potential to metastasise and snowball quickly, as has been witnessed in other parts of the world in recent times. Currently, there are three strands of jihadist radicalisation seeking to influence Indian minds, namely, homegrown radicalisation, cross-border radicalisation and the global jihadist radicalisation of transnational groups like al-Qaeda and the Islamic State of Iraq and Syria (ISIS). Although all the three forms have different strategic orientation and goals, they often collude to administer a heady brew to impressionable minds vexed by the country’s several socio-cultural, economic and political challenges.