New Delhi, September 10, 2026 (Yes Punjab News)
The National Investigation Agency’s (NIA) 7,500-page chargesheet in the Red Fort car blast case has highlighted the alleged influence of Al-Qaeda in the Arabian Peninsula (AQAP) on a self-radicalisation module operating from Faridabad, including the use of extremist literature containing instructions on explosives and covert operations.
One of the key findings was the recovery of a publication titled Lone Mujahid Pocket Book/How to Become an Assassin, which investigators said was authored by AQAP and was used by members of the Faridabad module.
An Intelligence Bureau official said the emergence of an AQAP manual indicated a worrying shift in the way newer terror modules in India could be exposed to extremist ideology.
“Outfits such as the Islamic State and Al-Qaeda have shifted a large part of their operations to the Arab nations. Most of the handlers that deal with the Indian recruits are from the Arab or African nations,” the official said.
Officials said AQAP remains among the most dangerous Al-Qaeda affiliates, while the broader organisation operates through separate regional branches, including in Afghanistan, the Arabian Peninsula and Africa.
Another official said AQAP does not maintain a conventional ground network in India. Al-Qaeda had established Al-Qaeda in the Indian Subcontinent (AQIS) for operations in the region, but AQAP is alleged to maintain tactical, ideological and organisational links with India, including through Indian diaspora communities in Arab countries.
“Currently, it has been looking for youth within India and using them to carry out terror acts,” the official said.
Officials also pointed to the growing volume of AQAP propaganda reaching India, suggesting that the affiliate may be attracting comparatively less scrutiny than AQIS. AQAP’s English-language digital magazine Inspire has long been used as a propaganda and radicalisation platform targeting young audiences.
Counter-terrorism experts, however, have raised concerns beyond ideological radicalisation, noting that some extremist publications also contain operational material relating to explosives, weapons, arson, vehicles and covert activities.
The NIA’s investigation indicated that the Faridabad module was allegedly preparing an attack on a large scale. Investigators said the sophistication of the alleged preparations raised concerns that a successful execution could have resulted in extensive casualties and destruction.
The agency also identified extremist literature containing material on explosives, including Triacetone Triperoxide (TATP), and information on remote-controlled mechanisms for detonating improvised explosive devices.
The revelations have prompted security agencies to maintain close watch on AQAP-related propaganda and recruitment efforts. Officials said the investigation into the Faridabad module had highlighted the potential impact of online extremist material on vulnerable sections of Indian youth.
AQAP has previously issued statements targeting India and released audio and video messages accusing the country of waging a war against Muslims. The group has also repeatedly called on Indian youth to join Al-Qaeda, according to security officials.
Officials said AQAP could seek to exploit localised communal tensions in India to strengthen its recruitment narratives, with the alleged broader objective of promoting radicalisation and destabilising the country.
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