Al-Qa’ida in the Indian Subcontinent (AQIS)

Al-Qa’ida in the Indian Subcontinent (AQIS) is a U.S.-designated Foreign Terrorist Organization (FTO) based mainly in Afghanistan that aims to eliminate Western influence in South Asia and establish a unified Islamic emirate that enforces strict Sunni Islamic law.

In September 2014, then-emir of al-Qa’ida (AQ) Ayman al Zawahiri announced the creation of AQIS as an affiliate of the core AQ terrorist organization, AQIS provides a communications link between violent jihadist groups in countries such as Bangladesh, Myanmmar, India, and Pakistan.

Closely associated with the Taliban, AQIS has pledged allegiance to leader Haybatullah Akundzada and has committed to defend the Sunni Islamist Nationalist group and assist in creating an Islamic emirate.

AQIS has engaged in small arms attacks, ambushes, suicide bombings, and assassinations. The group has also publicly announced its goal to carry out attacks in the West, conduct attacks against US interests in South Asia, and threatened attacks in Kashmir. AQIS claimed responsibility for the February 2015 machete attack on Bangladesh-born U.S. citizens and married couple Roy and Ahmed. The two were visiting Dhaka to attend a bookfair. Roy was killed, and Ahmed survived with critical injuries.

The AQIS Bangladesh branch claimed responsibility for the April 2016 murder of U.S. Agency for International Development employee Xulhaz Mannan and a friend in Bangladesh.

The Department of State has announced al-Qa’ida in the Indian Subcontinent as an FTO under Section 219 of the Immigration and Nationality Act and as a Specially Designated Global Terrorist (SDGT) under section 1(b) of Executive Order (E.O.) 13224. As a result, U.S. persons are prohibited to engage in transactions with AQIS and the freezing of all of its property and interests in the United States, or which come within the United States or the possession or control of U.S. persons. In addition, the consequences of AQIS’ FTO designation include a prohibition against knowingly providing, or attempting or conspiring to provide, material support or resources to the organization.