Proxies and Networks

The Usanas Foundation and the Program on Extremism at The George Washington University hosted a virtual seminar: Proxies and Networks: The Complicated Ecosystem of South Asian Jihadist Organizations. From the 2025 Red Fort attack attributed to Al-Qaeda in the Indian Subcontinent (AQIS), to ISIS-Khorasan’s efforts to project terrorism beyond Afghanistan, to Tehrik-e Taliban Pakistan’s (TTP) continued campaign inside Pakistan, the seminar examined the evolving landscape of jihadist organizations across South Asia.

The panelists discussed these organizations’ objectives, capabilities, and operational trajectories; the patterns of cooperation, competition, and overlap among them; and the ways in which the post-2021 security environment in Afghanistan has reshaped their opportunities, constraints, and relationships. The discussion also examined the evolving Islamist militant landscape in India and its implications for regional security. 

Featured panelists:

• Lt Gen Syed Ata Hasnain (Retd), PVSM, UYSM, AVSM, SM, VSM: Hon’ble governor of Bihar,  Former General Officer Commanding 15 Corps (Srinagar), 21 Corps & Military Secretary.
• Sara Harmouch: CEO, H9 Defense; Security Fellow, Frontier Security Institute; Non-Resident Fellow, Program on Extremism at George Washington University; Adjunct Professor at George Washington University.
• Abhinav Pandya: Founder and CEO, Usanas Foundation.
• Dipanjan Roy Chaudhury: Diplomatic Affairs Editor, The Economic Times.

This event was  moderated by Senior Fellow at the Program on Extremism Jeff Parsons.