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India’s Foreign Fighter Puzzle
Mr Mohammed Sinan Siyech Senior Analyst
Mr Mohammed Sinan Siyech
1
This is a journal article that discusses the lack of foreign fighters in the Islamic State. Since its rise in 2014, the Islamic State (IS) has attracted more than 30,000 volunteers to take part in the conflicts raging in Syria and Iraq. Despite a large presence of more than 160 million Muslims in India, not more than a hundred people have travelled abroad to join the IS.
Drawing on existing literature and interviews with academics, government officials and members of the Muslim community across India, this article demonstrates that insurgency movements such as the Afghan Jihad in the 1980s, the Indian government and other factors such as logistical issues, family structure, ideological opposition and racism in IS ranks have collectively played a role in preventing Indians from taking part in the Syrian and Iraqi conflicts. This article is valuable given the paucity of literature pertaining to Indian Muslims and their absence in the global jihadist community.
Drawing on existing literature and interviews with academics, government officials and members of the Muslim community across India, this article demonstrates that insurgency movements such as the Afghan Jihad in the 1980s, the Indian government and other factors such as logistical issues, family structure, ideological opposition and racism in IS ranks have collectively played a role in preventing Indians from taking part in the Syrian and Iraqi conflicts. This article is valuable given the paucity of literature pertaining to Indian Muslims and their absence in the global jihadist community.
| Theme: | Terrorism Studies / Conflict and Stability / Country and Region Studies |
| Region: | South Asia |
| Entity: | ICPVTR |
