Terror Financing in Kashmir

by Abhinav Pandya

This book analyses the layered and complex web of terror financing in Kashmir. It examines the role of multiple actors ― including formal and informal, state and non-state, profit and non-profit, and local and international ― to delineate the various strands of an intricate financial system. It shows how, over time, these sophisticated networks have largely remained elusive to Indian counter-terrorism agencies and the need for a specialised and focused effort to understand it. Drawing on interviews with confidential sources within terror networks, as well as inputs and intel from security agencies on the ground, the author lays the groundwork for a robust counter-terrorism strategy in Kashmir. This book will be a must read for professionals and researchers in security studies, military and strategic studies, politics and international relations, and South Asian studies.

318 pages, Hardcover

Published December 6, 2023

About the author

Dr Abhinav Pandya, a Cornell University graduate in public affairs and a bachelor's from St. Stephen’s College, Delhi, is a policy analyst specialising in counterterrorism, security affairs, Indian foreign policy, and Afghanistan-Pakistan geopolitics. He completed his Doctoral degree from the Jindal School of International Affairs (OP Jindal Global University). He has written book chapters in peer-reviewed Scopus-indexed journals and authored four books: The Jihad Game: Inside Pakistan’s Dark War (Juggernaut, 2025), Inside the Terrifying World of Jaish-e-Mohammed (HarperCollins India, 2024), Terror Financing in Kashmir (Routledge, 2023), and Radicalisation in India: An Exploration (Pentagon, 2019). Dr Pandya is a Staff Writing Fellow at the Middle East Forum (USA) and a Distinguished Fellow at the Centre for National Security Studies of Ramaiah University, Bangalore.

He is the founder, Director, and CEO of Usanas Foundation, a security and foreign policy think tank based in India.

He has delivered online and offline lectures at numerous prestigious national and international events and conferences, including "Dismantling Global Jihad" in the United States, the "Russophile Movement" in Russia, and the St. Petersburg International Economic Forum, APRI Forum (Armenia). Additionally, he has addressed NATO officers on terrorism-related issues at the Baltic Defence College, US Congressional staff members, the Vivekananda International Foundation, the Central Reserve Police Force of India, the Bureau of Police Research and Development, and the Indian Army. Furthermore, he is a member of the Harvard University Project on Trans-Caucasus.

He has been interviewed by Carnegie, Sputnik, New York Times, Russia Today, Civil Net (Armenia), APA News (Azerbaijan), Economic Times, News X (India), News 9, DD India, NBC (USA), Epoch Times, Zee News, Stratfor, Dainik Bhaskar, and many PhD scholars working in terrorism studies. Besides, he has been interviewed by top-ranking podcasts in India, including ANI, Jist Media, Vaad, Chakra News, India Today, Lallantop, and Aajtak.

Previously, he advised the former Governor of Jammu and Kashmir on security issues during the critical times when Kashmir’s special status, i.e., Article 370, was revoked. He also worked with the International Labour Organisation (ILO) and the UN as a member of the national-level specialist team on MGNREGS. He has extensive experience with the conflict situation and intelligence dynamics in Kashmir.