Despite the declaration by then US President Donald Trump in March 2019 that the Islamic State of Iraq and Syria (ISIS) had been effectively destroyed, the terrorist outfit has persisted and resurged, repeatedly extending its influence beyond its original geographical base. Between 2011 and 2013, following the outbreak of the Syrian civil war, factions of what was once al-Qaeda in Iraq evolved into ISIS (or ‘Daesh’ in Arabic), a radical Sunni Islamist group committed to the violent establishment of an Islamic caliphate.

At its zenith from 2014 to 2017, the group faced significant neutralisation due to the intervention of various geopolitical actors with differing agendas, including US-led coalition forces, Russia, and Iran. Nevertheless, despite its shattered territorial control and diminished operational capacity, the group continues to resurface, both as a physical presence and as a radical ideological force, claiming hundreds of lives and attracting vulnerable youth with its ideology.

A major vehicle through which ISIS has effectively spread its message is the internet, where its ecosystem of extremist propaganda content radicalises individuals and groups, leading to the formation of a widespread network of jihadist factions that have pledged allegiance to the IS ‘empire’. In South Asia, the IS first emerged in 2015 as the Islamic State-Khorasan Province (ISKP), rapidly garnering the support of multiple radical groups and individuals, including commanders from organisations such as al-Qaeda in Afghanistan and Pakistan, and Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP). The pre-existing presence of numerous violent extremist groups in these countries created a conducive environment for the swift early expansion of ISKP, further fuelled by the prolonged, gradual spread of Salafi Islam within the socio-political framework. Furthermore, following the Taliban’s 2021 takeover of Afghanistan, there has been a noticeable increase in ISKP attacks.

After losing significant........

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