DNA Exclusive: First Indian al Qaeda fighter killed in Syria

Internationally designated terrorist group Jabhat Fateh al-Sham, formerly known as Jabhat al Nusrah, the affiliate of al Qaeda in Syria has publicly announced the first casualty of an Indian fighter in the group. One Abu Salim al Hindi, also known as Abu Salih, was identified as an Indian national by the group in an obit. He is believed to have died in August in the bloody battle between Syrian coalition forces and jihadi rebel groups to break the siege of Aleppo.

This is the first time an Indian fighter with al Qaeda splinter group is known to have died in Syria.

Fursan al Sham media, an outlet based in Syria run by fighters affiliated with al Qaeda and JFS, released the obit of Abu Salim late Wednesday evening on Telegram channel. The group released details of his death after a three-month delay as it was seeking permission from the family to make the announcement public. "Abu Salim had asked his family be informed upon his death. Before releasing details of his martyrdom through media channels we asked his family’s permission,’’ an Indian fighter who was friends with Abu Salim told DNA. The release says that Abu Salim was the youngest child of his family and had kept contact with them before and after reaching Syria. His family in India is aware that he was in Syria with al Qaeda and he died in August.

The obituary written by fellow fighters—known by their social media profiles as Pashtun and Life in Syria—provides a short background and glimpse of an Indian’s journey to the jihadi battlefield in the war-ravaged Levant region.  "Abu Salim like many Indians was working for a company outside," the release says without revealing his real name, identity or background. It however adds that before joining the jihad, Abu Salim was helping families of 'martyrs' with funds and logistics. "He once delivered money which reached 15 martyrs' families," the obit says. It is not known whether these families were Indian or of other nationalities, but indicates that Abu Salim was in close contact with terrorist groups before joining the al Qaeda affiliate in Syria.  

The armed conflict in Syria that began in 2011 after the mass protests of Arab Spring and the brutal crackdown by President Bashar Assad-led government forces, made Abu Salim determined to "fulfil his obligation of jihad which he had been guided to," the obit says, adding, "Since a young age he was interested in jihad and after the invasion of Afghanistan, he decided to be a Mujahid... the events in Sham gave him this opportunity."

A large number of foreign fighters, not just from the Arab world but also from Europe, Canada, Australia and Asia, fled to Syria to join jihadi and rebel groups fighting the forces of President Assad. It is estimated that the conflict in Syria has led to the largest mobilisation of foreign fighters—over 40,000—since the Afghanistan jihad.

The Islamic State’s ideology of Caliphate and call to all Muslims to join the holy war has also lured Indian Muslims who have fled to Syria from their homes in India or from abroad. According to Indian security agencies, around 68 Indians are fighting or staying in Syria as supporters of the Islamic State and al Qaeda. Many of them have joined from foreign countries including the Gulf, which has a large Indian diaspora. Abu Salim is one such case.

Salim reached Syria via Turkey, making use of his contacts on social media platform of Twitter, where he found help from another Urdu-speaking foreign fighter. From the time he reached Syria, Abu Salim joined the battle in frontline even without proper military training, the release says. As the battle of Aleppo became intense, he spent days fighting the Syrian-Russian forces. In the first week of August, backed by Russian airstrikes, government loyal forces pounded the rebel held East Aleppo with ground assault. In a bloody confrontation between the JFS militants and pro-regime troops at '1070 building complex' Abu Salim and his commander died. He was newly married.

So far seven Indian nationals have died fighting with the Islamic States, including Kalyan resident Aman Tandel whose family received news of his death in Syria. Abu Salim is the first known casualty with IS' rival group JFS. 

Canada-based researcher Amarnath Amarsingham, who studies violent extremism and foreign fighters, said many people assume that all foreign fighters are travelling to join ISIS, perhaps because of the media attention the group gets. "But many also join other groups in Syria including JFS. This includes Indians," he said. Through his research, Amarsingham estimates that around 8-10 Indians have joined JFS in Syria. "The choice of joining IS, JFS or other rebel groups depends on the individual. What's common amongst Nusra (JFS) fighters is they went to help Sunni Muslims against the regime of Assad. Like Abu Salim, who died during the brutal siege of Aleppo.’’

Interestingly, while India banned the Islamic State under Section 35 of the Unlawful Activities Prevention Act in 2015, thus making any individual joining the group or supporting its activities to be charged with terror offences, AQ-linked Jabhat Fateh al Sham and its affiliates are not proscribed yet.