From Global to Territorial: The Evolution of Global Jihad and Its Implications

By Grace Mubashir, New Age Islam 20 December 20242024 The Nature Of Global Jihad Has Shifted From A Transnational Movement, Epitomized By Al-Qaeda, To Territorial Ambitions Exemplified By Groups Like The Islamic State (IS) And The Taliban. While Al-Qaeda Focused On Global Attacks To Unite Muslims Against Western Powers, IS And The Taliban Pursued Control Over Land To Establish Governance And Enforce Their Interpretation Of Islamic Law. This Transition Highlights The Strategic Adaptation Of Jihadist Movements To Counterterrorism Efforts. Major Points: 1. Key lessons from Afghanistan and Syria include the resilience of localized movements, the role of fragile states in enabling jihadist control, and the adaptability of these groups to avoid global counterterrorism strategies. 2. Territorial jihadists often gain legitimacy by addressing local grievances and positioning themselves as defenders of nationalist or sectarian causes. 3. Policy implications include strengthening governance in fragile states, adopting localized counterterrorism strategies, delegitimizing jihadist governance, addressing the ideological appeal of extremism, and fostering international cooperation. ------ The rise of Islamist forces in Afghanistan and Syria represents one of the most fundamentally transformative shifts characterizing the global jihad. Historically, jihadist movements have been transnational in their agenda, which focused on targeting faraway enemies. Today, they increasingly focus on establishing and maintaining territorial control. This trend reflects the adaptability of jihadist strategies and the challenge that local insurgencies pose to international security. The article is going to attempt the comparison of Afghanistan and Syria as an attempt to better understand the motivations, implications of this shift, and some lessons for international policy-making. The Evolution of Global Jihad: From Transnational to Territorial Goals Global jihad is a phenomenon that emerged in the late 20th century as a response to geopolitical, ideological, and religious grievances. The phenomenon was epitomized by groups like al-Qaeda, which focused on a borderless struggle against what they regarded as oppressive Western and secular regimes. Their attacks, such as the September 11, 2001 tragedy, were aimed at destabilizing global systems, inspiring widespread uprisings, and attracting recruits worldwide. However, the Islamic State's rise in the 2010s suddenly and dramatically broke with this trend. IS focused on territorial conquests and established a physical caliphate in Iraq and Syria. The shift from attacking far-flung "enemies of Islam" to building a state was both ideological and pragmatic: it allowed IS to claim instant legitimacy among its adherents and to project the appearance of a functioning Islamic polity, which al-Qaeda's abstract vision could not provide. The Taliban's revival in Afghanistan is the best example of the territorial jihadist movement. Their interest is never to launch a world ideological campaign but to make Afghanistan their own and be able to enforce their notion of Sharia law. Well, their success demonstrates what a relentless, locally-grounded insurgency can do: out-last even the most determined international coalition. Territorialisation As A Strategic Choice This is also an expression of strategic imperatives. As the counterterrorism efforts began to target transnational networks, the jihadist groups realized that the decentralized structure alone was not enough to sustain themselves. They needed territorial control to establish operational bases, access resources, and create a platform for governance. This territorialisation actually conforms with historical precedents from when Islamist movements attempted to pattern after the early Islamic state model. Control over land allows them to impose their version of the sharia law, conduct their camps, and derive revenues through tax, extortion, and trading activities. Lessons from Afghanistan and Syria Resilience Through Localization These cases, particularly Afghanistan and Syria, depict the survival of localized jihadist movements. The territorial movements are implanted into local populations, which differs them from global networks as these often rely on external funding and support. They sometimes even exploit ethnic, tribal, or sectarian dynamics to establish connections and maintain their presence. The Taliban, for example, successfully mobilized the rural Pashtun community by highlighting grievances and portraying themselves as a means of defence against foreign occupation. Localized jihadist groups are also better positioned to adjust to changing political and military situations. For example, HTS in Syria has been quite flexible, changing allegiances and tactics to secure the hegemony of Idlib province against hostile external forces. The Role of Failed States Failed or fragile states directly relate to the growth of territorial jihadist movements. Afghanistan and Syria are examples of settings where weak governance, corruption, and prolonged conflict offer insurgencies a breeding ground. In Afghanistan, war and foreign intervention progressively dismantled state capacity; Taliban militants exploited the failed governance to pose as an alternative system in opposition to a corrupt, incapable regime. The Syrian case presents the state fragmentation caused by the civil war as an opportunity for the jihadists that had not been witnessed anywhere else in history. The collapse of central authority and the entrance of foreign fighters created chaos that paved the way for extremist groups. The failure of international actors to stabilize the region entrenched jihadist factions further. Adapting to Counterterrorism Strategies The transnational jihadist groups have proven quite adaptable to the global efforts at counterterrorism. When international coalitions targeted transnational networks at disruption, the territorial groups changed their tactics towards avoiding direct confrontation. For instance, Taliban, while using an attritional strategy, avoided big battles but had soft targets on government and the coalition forces. In Syria, jihadist groups exploited the complexity of the conflict to their advantage. They embedded themselves within the opposition forces and began to take on local causes. This made it difficult for the outside world to be able to distinguish between extremists and legitimate opposition. The Narrative of Legitimacy One of the most important lessons drawn from Afghanistan and Syria is that a legitimacy narrative is vital for territorial jihadist movements. Indeed, territorial jihadist movements often try to position themselves as local national defenders, exploiting local grievances against foreign powers and against corrupt governments. This aspect of the Taliban's depiction as a nationalist movement instead of an ideological offshoot of global jihad was pivotal in gaining support among sections of Afghan society. Similarly, groups like HTS have tried to portray themselves as pragmatic actors, capable of governing and providing services. This is in contrast to the alienating rhetoric of global jihad, which often fails to resonate with local populations. Policy Implications Strengthening Governance in Fragile States The lesson from Afghanistan and Syria is that the root causes of jihadist insurgencies need to be addressed. Fragile states require support through comprehensive state-building efforts focused on governance, infrastructure, and economic development. International assistance should focus on empowering local institutions, combating corruption, and fostering inclusivity. Strengthening governance should also deal with the grievances being exploited by jihadist groups. Policies have to focus more on social justice, equitable resource sharing, and protection of minority rights to remove the appeal of extremist ideology. Local Counter Terrorism Strategies One size cannot fit all; counterterrorism has to go localized. Areas like Afghanistan and Syria, though military interventions remain part of the toolkits, must also engage other non-military means in terms of diplomacy, development, and reconciliation efforts. Localized strategies should consider collaborating with regional actors who would be aware of the relevant socio-political dynamics of that region. Such partnerships can therefore increase the effectiveness of any counterinsurgency activity while minimizing foreign intervention, a common cause of anti-Western sentiment. Undermining Jihadist Legitimacy Delegitimisation of claims to governance is necessary to counter territorial jihadist movements. These include exposing their human rights abuses, failures in service delivery, and exploitation of local populations. Publicizing the brutality of groups like the Taliban and IS can erode their support base and discourage recruitment. Local opposition voices and amplifying moderate religious leaders and civil society organizations can further challenge the narratives of the jihadist movements. All these actors are vital in countering extremist ideologies and fostering community resilience. Addressing the Ideological Appeal The very essence of jihadist movements has actually turned more towards territorial objectives while still being global in the ideology. This ideological appeal will call for a multifaceted response involving education, interfaith dialogue, and the promotion of more moderate readings of Islam. Investment in education is a particularly critical area. Quality access to education, especially in regions affected by conflict, could be used as a deterrent against the recruitment efforts of jihadist groups. Education curricula should focus on thinking critically, tolerance, and civic responsibility to immunize young minds against extremist ideologies. Finally, countering territorial jihadist movements requires strong international cooperation. These groups usually operate across borders and benefit from regional instability, making unilateral approaches insufficient. Multilateral initiatives should focus on intelligence sharing, joint counterterrorism operations, and coordinated efforts to stabilize conflict zones. International cooperation should also incorporate the aspect of social and economic aspects fuelling extremism. Cooperation on poverty reduction, encouraging economic development, and access to education would provide a stronger foundation for peace. Conclusion This transformation from global to territorial jihad reflects the flexibility of the jihadist movements and the nature of the present-day conflict. Afghanistan and Syria represent a paradigm in how grasping local factors, underlying reasons for radicalization, and an all-rounded strategy could be utilized in managing the menace of a changing adversary. Lessons learnt from these instances could change international policies into one more sustainable and effective at managing the threat of influence from the jihadist movements toward stability in the long run. ----- A regular columnist for NewAgeIslam.com, Mubashir V.P is a PhD scholar in Islamic Studies at Jamia Millia Islamia and freelance journalist. URL: https://www.newageislam.com/islam-terrorism-jihad/global-territorial-evolution-global-jihad/d/134085 New Age Islam, Islam Online, Islamic Website, African Muslim News, Arab World News, South Asia News, Indian Muslim News, World Muslim News, Women in Islam, Islamic Feminism, Arab Women, Women In Arab, Islamophobia in America, Muslim Women in West, Islam Women and Feminism