INTRODUCTION
South Asia’s security dynamics are undergoing a profound transformation, driven by the rise of new-age terrorism characterised by decentralised networks, advanced technology, and the exploitation of socio-political fault lines. The region, encompassing-Afghanistan, Pakistan, India, Bangladesh, Maldives, and Sri Lanka, faces persistent threats from Salafi-jihadist and Deobandi groups seeking to impose their ideological vision of governance. The April 22, 2025, cold-blooded Pahalgam massacre in Jammu and Kashmir (J&K), which claimed 26 civilian lives, epitomised the lethality of these threats. Perpetrated by The Resistance Front (TRF), a Pakistan-based proxy of Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT), the attack prompted India’s decisive response through Operation Sindoor on May 7, 2025, targeting terrorist infrastructure in Pakistan and Pakistan-occupied Kashmir (PoK).

This article aims to highlight the historical and ideological roots of radicalisation in the South Asian region; Pakistan’s role in fostering terrorism; the transnational nature of these threats; and India’s multifaceted counterterrorism strategy, arguing that a blend of kinetic and non-kinetic measures is essential to neutralise immediate dangers and address the long-term vulnerabilities.

HISTORICAL ROOTS OF RADICALISATION
The origins of radicalisation in South Asia are deeply tied to its historical and political evolution. Islamist factions have long aspired to establish Dar-al-Islam – a system rooted in their diabolically severe interpretation of Sharia, often invoking the legacy of Muslim rule in the Indian subcontinent disrupted by British colonialism. This narrative casts India as Dar-al-Harb – a territory calling for jihad to restore Islamic dominance. The 1947 partition, creating Pakistan as a Muslim-majority state, failed to resolve these aspirations, fuelling tensions over J&K, evident in the 1947–48, first India-Pakistan war supported by elements of Pakistan’s military. The 1980s marked a turning point under Pakistan’s General Zia-ul-Haq, whose policies amplified Islamist ideologies to bolster domestic control and pursue strategic goals in J&K–supporting non-state actors with Islamist agendas to attack India from within, with the intent to ‘Bleed India from a Thousand Cuts.’ The anti-Soviet jihad in Afghanistan catalysed the rise of groups like LeT and Jaish-e-Mohammed (JeM), which later aligned with global networks such as Al Qaeda (AQ) and the Islamic State (ISIS). The 2019 Sri Lanka Easter bombings by the ISIS-affiliated National Thowheed Jamaat (NTJ) further highlight the interconnectedness of these threats.

Today, these groups exploit digital platforms and religious institutions to radicalise youth, leveraging socio-political grievances to destabilise the region, particularly India.

NEW AGE TERRORISM
New-age terrorism is marked by its adaptability to modern technology and its decentralised, transnational structure. Unlike traditional terrorism, which relied on hierarchical organisations, these groups use drones, encrypted communications, and cyber platforms to orchestrate attacks and propagate fear. They exploit socio-economic disparities and political instability to recruit individuals through sophisticated online campaigns.

In J&K, Pakistan-backed groups like LeT and JeM fuel separatist narratives, capitalising on local discontent to attract vulnerable young people. The 2016 killing of Burhan Wani, whose social media propaganda glorified jihad, sparked widespread unrest and recruitment. Beyond J&K, ethnic conflicts in India’s Northeast, such as the Meitei-Kuki clashes in Manipur, exacerbated by instability in Myanmar, create fertile ground for radicalisation. In Bangladesh, the political vacuum following the fall of the Awami League has created a platform for Jamaat-e-Islami (JI) to make a comeback and expand its influence, raising concerns for India’s Northeast due to shared porous borders and JI’s historical ties to Pakistan-backed extremism; this itself highlights the red flags. 

PAKISTAN’S STRATEGY-BREEDING or STATE-SPONSORED? 
Pakistan’s role in breeding terrorism within its jurisdiction is a critical factor in the region’s security challenges. The Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI) has consistently provided training, funding, and logistical support to groups like LeT and JeM, targeting India, particularly in J&K as well as India’s Northeast, especially targeting Assam via its proxies in Bangladesh. The 2011 discovery of Osama bin Laden in Abbottabad, near a Pakistani military academy, exposed Pakistan’s complicity in sheltering terrorists. A 2021 Financial Action Task Force (FATF) report criticised Pakistan’s failure to regulate radical madrassas, which serve as recruitment hubs for groups like Al Qaeda in the Indian Subcontinent (AQIS) and the Islamic State Khorasan Province (ISKP). These institutions, often funded by external actors, indoctrinate youth with radical Islamist ideologies, amplifying anti-India sentiments.

For almost 40-odd years, India has been a victim of Pakistan’s breeding and state-sponsored terrorism. Pakistan’s strategy of proxy warfare was once again evident; in April 2025, the cold-blooded Pahalgam massacre by TRF—a LeT proxy—clearly reflected a deliberate policy to destabilise India with their strong intent of bleeding India from a thousand cuts. In fact, it was only a week before the Pahalgam attack, General Asim Munir’s speech, spewing venom, reasserted the two-nation theory, emphasising the Hindu-Muslim differences, and issued threats regarding Kashmir while addressing Baloch unrest, signaling his frustration and attempt to bolster the Pakistan military’s waning relevance. Delivered at the Pakistan Military Academy in Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa, the speech reflects Munir’s past role as ISI chief during the 2019 Pulwama attack. Clearly the April 2025 Pahalgam attack, orchestrated by TRF without a second thought, was fully backed by Pakistan’s military with the aim of disrupting Kashmir’s stability, internationalising the “Kashmir” issue, inciting communal violence in India, and, of course, reviving the military’s strategic and domestic stature.

Online propaganda, disseminated through platforms like X (Twitter) and encrypted channels like Telegram, further exacerbates this threat, with groups like AQIS and ISKP targeting India’s diverse society. Despite international pressure, Pakistan’s reluctance to dismantle these networks, as noted by India’s Ministry of External Affairs, highlights Pakistan’s role as a breeding ground for terrorism, complicating regional stability.

THE TRANSNATIONAL PLAYBOOK—DAESH & AL QAEDA
Among new-age terrorist groups, ISKP–a South Asian tentacle/ affiliate of the Islamic State (IS) also known by its Arabic acronym Daesh “al-Dawla al-Islamiya fi al-Iraq wa al-Sham” and AQIS––an affiliate of the Al Qaeda, stand out for their global ambitions and digital sophistication. 

ISKP, was established in 2015 along the Afghanistan-Pakistan border, seeks a global caliphate through indiscriminate violence, targeting Shia, Sufi, and rival jihadist groups. Its evolution includes two phases. Phase 1: The Territorial Phase (2015–2019), focused on controlling Afghan regions, and Phase 2: Terrorist Networking and Urban Bombing Phase (2020–present), marked by urban insurgency and digital propaganda. ISKP’s global reach was evident in the 2024 Moscow concert hall attack and a foiled Paris Olympics plot, with its propaganda outlet, Voice of Khorasan, promotes anti-India content in Hindi and Malayalam to inspire lone-wolf attacks in J&K and Southern Parts of India.

AQIS, formed in 2014, prioritises India, with its rhetoric escalating sharply by issuing a Jihad declaration during India’s Operation Sindoor on May 7, 2025. AQIS exploits grievances in J&K, Uttar Pradesh, West Bengal, Kerala, and Assam. Operating from Pakistan’s tribal areas with tacit ISI support, AQIS’s media arm, Al-Sahab, produces multilingual content to radicalise youth, fabricating narratives of anti-Muslim oppression. Despite India’s robust counter-terrorism measures, AQIS has seen partial success in Assam, where nine affiliated modules were dismantled between 2021 and 2022.

Both ISKP’s and AQIS’ decentralised structures and digital reach make them resilient, posing a persistent threat to regional stability.

India’s Counter-Terrorism Strategy
India’s response to new-age terrorism integrates both kinetic and non-kinetic measures. Operation Sindoor, launched on May 7, 2025, targeted nine terrorist camps in Pakistan and PoK, using BrahMos missiles and drones to neutralise over 100 terrorists, showcasing India’s precision and resolve. Named after the vermilion powder worn by married Hindu women as a symbol of their husbands’ longevity, Operation Sindoor’s “purposeful employment of gendered narratives and individuals disrupts traditional international relations discourse, merging cultural significance with geopolitical communication.”

Operation Sindoor being entirely a 360-degree turnaround in India’s counterterror strategy may not be entirely correct, but it surely has been a decisive retaliation, as it showcases a proactive, assertive, and uncompromising approach to India’s National Security and the nation’s zero-tolerance policy for terrorism. This operation, launched in response to the heinous Pahalgam terror attack, exemplifies India’s resolve to deliver justice swiftly and decisively. By targeting and destroying terrorist infrastructures run by JeM & LeT, not just limiting to Pakistan-occupied Jammu & Kashmir (PoK) but for the first time entering deep into Pakistan. However, India has been extremely cautious and avoided any civilian and military targets. With this India has redefined its strategic posture, moving from reactive measures to proactive precise strikes that neutralise threats at their source. As addressed by Defence Minister Rajnath Singh in May 2025, “India’s fight against terrorism is now a part of the national defence doctrine; we will root out this hybrid & proxy warfare.” This new doctrine, which can now be called ‘retaliation on India’s terms,’ is indeed the cornerstone of this revitalised strategy.

It is also essential to highlight that the ongoing (which is now at pause) Operation Sindoor could be an actualisation of the Shishupala Doctrine, as articulated by Hindol Sengupta in 2019. Drawing from the Mahabharata, where Krishna tolerates 100 insults before decisive action, the doctrine advocates setting clear red lines for Pakistan’s provocations, responding with calibrated force. Operation Sindoor, a response to the Pahalgam massacre, shattered Pakistan’s nuclear bluff, forcing Islamabad to reassess its proxy war strategy. By targeting terrorist infrastructure while sparing civilians, India balanced restraint with resolve, reinforcing its commitment to national security.

Non-kinetic measures focus on prevention and counter-radicalisation. Diplomatic efforts, including a parliamentary delegation, seek global consensus on counter-terrorism, while the suspension of the Indus Water Treaty pressures Pakistan economically. Programs like Maharashtra’s ATS De-radicalisation initiative and Kerala’s community policing address at-risk youth, while Assam’s 2020 educational reforms transformed 1,200 madrassas into secular schools. Operation Sadbhavana, an initiative by the Indian Army in J&K, promotes trust through education and infrastructure. There is an ongoing effort to disrupt terrorist networks through counter-messaging and global intelligence sharing, aligning with strategies to counter Salafi ideologies by addressing marginalisation.

Conclusion
South Asia’s security landscape faces unprecedented challenges from new-age terrorism, driven by decentralized networks and technological sophistication. The Pahalgam massacre and Operation Sindoor highlights the need for a much more comprehensive counter-terrorism strategy. India’s blend of kinetic operations and non-kinetic measures like counter-radicalisation and diplomacy addresses both immediate threats and underlying drivers. The Shishupala Doctrine signals India’s proactive stance, ensuring decisive responses to attacks. However, the transnational nature of these threats demands sustained international cooperation to disrupt terrorist networks and promote regional stability.

Priyadarshini Baruah

Priyadarshini Baruah is a Research Associate at the Centre for Aerospace Power and Strategic Studies (CAPSS), New Delhi. At CAPS, she is working on a fellowship project titled ‘New Media and Terrorism’. She holds a Master’s in Geopolitics and International Relations from Manipal Academy of Higher Education (MAHE), Karnataka. Before joining CAPS, she gained valuable experience through internships at the Institute of Cyber Policy Studies in Israel and the Forum for Integrated National Security (FINS). She was selected as a Fellow at the Takshashila Institution’s Network for Advanced Study of Pakistan (NASP) for the 2024–2025 cohort, a program designed to deepen the understanding of Pakistan’s security dynamics.

Priyadarshini has published articles on various topics related to Islamist terrorism and radicalism in South Asia in professional journals and edited volumes. She regularly engages with think tanks across India and is frequently invited by institutions to deliver lectures and present her research findings.