On a Friday in the holy month of Ramjan, the camouflage-clad armed gunmen of the Islamic State in Khorasan Province, notoriously known as ISKP, infiltrated the Crocus City Hall, located just 20 kilometers away from the Kremlin in Moscow. In an instant, the serene atmosphere cherished by music aficionados was shattered by the jarring echoes of gunfire. The merciless onslaught on Friday in Moscow by the ISIS operatives claimed the lives of at least 133 common civilians, leaving several others wounded, thus etching this tragic event as one of the most heart-wrenching terror attacks in history. This despicable act of terror attack tragically parallels the horrific 26/11 Mumbai terror attack, joining the annals of indiscriminate terror that scars the nation. Terrorist group Lashkar-e-Taiban killed 166 individuals in a series of indiscriminate attack in the heart of India’s financial capital Mumbai on 26 November, 2008.
“The harrowing scenes of panic and chaos at the Crocus City Hall music venue in Moscow evoke haunting memories of a dark day—November 26, 2008, when terror struck Mumbai's shores. Crowds of people, sought refuge behind their seats in Moscow, were filmed screaming and running in terror as gunmen unleashed hell reminded me of 26/11. The recent attack, claimed by ISIS, serves as a grim reminder of the senseless violence perpetrated by extremists who seek to sow fear and division'' -
Zeba Zoariah, a Delhi based Policy Columnist and Lawyer told Vygr News.
However, unlike the lone wolf and fidayeen attacks that India has tragically endured, such a brazen assault in Russia comes as a sheer shock.
Coincidentally, the Islamic State attack in Moscow occurred the day after the arrest of ISIS India chief Haris Farooqi in Assam's Dhubri district.On the other hand, Russia immediately detained the gunmen, and Moscow is steadfast in its determination to seek justice for the horrific terror attack.
Calling it a heinous terrorist attack, Prime Minister Narendra Modi on X penned, “India stands in solidarity with the government and the people of the Russian Federation in this hour of grief.”
ISIS-Russia: Deep Seated Animosity and the Attack ?
Islamic State's hostility towards Russia is longstanding. The ISIS operates on an ultra-radical ideological stance. In September 2022, ISIS-K militants claimed responsibility for a deadly suicide bombing targeting the Russian Embassy in Kabul, Taliban led Afghanistan's capital.The ISIS and the Taliban,the incumbent in Kabul have huge ideological differences.
In a curious twist of timing, the attack occurred shortly after President Putin secured his latest stint in the electoral spotlight. It seems ISIS has been holding a grudge against Vladimir Putin lately, citing alleged oppression of Muslims by Russia.
ISIS aimed to display its capacity to carry out attacks within Russian territory to assert dominance. However, according to the strategic experts Vygr News spoke, the indiscriminate shooting at the Crocus City Hall concert venue indicates a decline in ISIS's effectiveness. The indiscriminate nature of the attack undermines any semblance of strategic planning or purpose, suggesting a lack of direction within the terrorist organisation. The ISIK, which operates in South-Central Asia has changed their strategy and reoriented their organization.
Speaking to Vygr News, a former Intelligence officer, who served in the IS-IK operating zone remarked such attack proves ISIK is “weak and afraid".
Other than the Muslim factor, the intelligence officer thinks President Vladimir Putin's support for the Syrian president is one of the key concerns of ISIS.
The intelligence officer believes that, aside from religious motivations, one of ISIS's main grievances against President Vladimir Putin is his support for Syrian President Bashar al-Assad. Putin's backing of Assad's regime in Syria has been a significant factor in the ongoing conflict in the region. From ISIS's perspective, Putin's support for Assad is seen as a direct challenge to their objectives in Syria, where they seek to establish their own authority. This support exacerbates tensions between ISIS and the Russian government, leading to increased hostility and potential acts of terrorism targeting Russian interests.
The brutal assault on Russia not only affects its time-tested friend India, but also strikes at the heart of humanity. Both Indian leadership and intellectuals are deeply troubled by the inhumane terror attack in Moscow. Commenting on Russia, External Affairs Minister Dr. S Jaishankar from Singapore said, '‘Russia is a country with which we always had a positive relationship, both India, Russia have taken extra care to look after each other's interest.”
In a conversation with Vygr News, Ambassador Anil Trigunayat (rtrd.) Ambassador Trigunayat underscored the necessity of global solidarity in combating this menace.
While talking to Vygr News, Zeba Zoariah further remarked,
“As ISIS proudly boasts of the bloodshed, their message reverberates with chilling familiarity—a reminder that the scars of terror are never forgotten, and the pain of loss is everlasting. Yet, amidst the horror and grief, there is a glimmer of resilience—a shared resolve to stand united against the forces of hatred and extremism. As President Putin rightly emphasizes, terrorists have no nationality, and there is no future for them. Let us never forget the lives lost, and let us never forget that our strength lies in our unity and determination to overcome terror's darkest depths.”
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