What do you think?
Rate this book
The Jihad Game: Inside Pakistan’s Dark War
The Jihad Game lays bare how Pakistan’s army and ISI turned jihad into a weapon of statecraft and a way of waging permanent war against India. From the 1980s till today, from the blood-soaked alleys of Kashmir to the terror camps in Pakistan, this hard-hitting book exposes the networks of terror, money and manipulation that power Pakistan’s shadow war against India. It reveals how Pakistan’s military-intelligence complex built an ecosystem of militant groups, nurtured them over decades and continues to deploy them as instruments of chaos. Drawing on ground reports, first-hand interviews and sharp analysis, The Jihad Game uncovers the machinery that keeps the conflict alive and what India must do to break it.
This book is a chilling, clear-eyed account of Pakistan’s longest-running covert operation and the battles India must be ready to fight.
This book is a chilling, clear-eyed account of Pakistan’s longest-running covert operation and the battles India must be ready to fight.
- GenresIslam
347 pages, Kindle Edition
Published December 10, 2025
About the author
Abhinav Pandya
4 books10 followersDr 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.
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.
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 6 of 6 reviews
May 31, 2026
The Jihad Story by Abhinav Pandya is a well-researched book, but it reads more like an academic white paper than the engaging narrative its title suggests.
The content is good. Pandya clearly knows his subject and brings solid research to the table. The problem, though, is that the writing feels aimed at policy researchers and academics, not everyday readers. If you pick this up hoping for a clear, on-the-ground account of how things actually unfold, you might come away a little disappointed.
At 300+ pages, it's also just too long. The same ideas could have been told in half the pages and would have been far more enjoyable to read. More pages do not always mean more value, and this book is a good example of that.
If you work in academia or policy, you will probably get more out of this than the average reader. For everyone else, it takes more patience than it probably should.
The content is good. Pandya clearly knows his subject and brings solid research to the table. The problem, though, is that the writing feels aimed at policy researchers and academics, not everyday readers. If you pick this up hoping for a clear, on-the-ground account of how things actually unfold, you might come away a little disappointed.
At 300+ pages, it's also just too long. The same ideas could have been told in half the pages and would have been far more enjoyable to read. More pages do not always mean more value, and this book is a good example of that.
If you work in academia or policy, you will probably get more out of this than the average reader. For everyone else, it takes more patience than it probably should.
September 30, 2026
If you’re looking to understand the complex issue of terrorism in India and aren’t sure where to begin, this book is an excellent starting point particularly for readers who value facts and straightforward analysis over sugarcoated narratives. I personally found the book deeply informative and gained a much clearer understanding of the issue of jihad in India through the author’s work. It has certainly encouraged me to explore more of the author’s books in the future.
October 2, 2026
Before getting into the book itself, I think it is important to understand the author’s background. Much of what is discussed in the book draws from his own experiences and observations on the ground, particularly his time in Kashmir before and around the abrogation of Article 370, when he served as an advisor to the then Governor of Jammu and Kashmir. That background gives the book a perspective that is quite different from a purely academic or historical account.
The book begins by tracing some of the major landmarks that contributed to the rise of global jihad, particularly three events: the Soviet invasion of Afghanistan, Ayatollah Khomeini’s Islamic Revolution in Iran, and the siege of the Grand Mosque in Mecca by Islamist extremists. The author explains how these events shaped the broader jihadi movement and eventually contributed to the emergence of networks of mujahideen, including those operating from Pakistan.
He also discusses the origins and ideology of Wahhabism and Deobandism, and explains how different schools and movements within the broader Islamic world influenced the development of militant organizations. The book goes into the emergence of organizations such as Jaish-e-Mohammad, Lashkar-e-Taiba, Hizbul Mujahideen, JKLF, Al-Qaeda and Jamaat-e-Islami, among others.
One aspect I found particularly interesting was the way the author connects these different organizations. Rather than looking at them as completely isolated entities, he explains the ideological links, overlapping networks, shared objectives, recruitment and training ecosystems, and, at times, the connections between Pakistan-based and international militant organizations. The book attempts to show how these groups, despite having different origins and specific agendas, could operate within a broader ideological and militant ecosystem and influence or support one another in different ways.
One section that particularly stands out is the discussion of the IC-814 hijacking and the release of Masood Azhar. The author examines the circumstances surrounding the decision and its subsequent consequences, faced by India.
The book also takes a look at Iran before and after the Islamic Revolution. It discusses the rule of Mohammad Reza Shah, the Westernization policies pursued during his reign, the opposition they generated, and the eventual rise of Ruhollah Khomeini. This provides useful context for understanding how political and religious movements can transform the trajectory of a country.
A substantial portion of the book is devoted to Kashmir. The author discusses the evolution of militancy, terror financing, recruitment and training networks, and the role played by various organizations and external actors. He also examines several decisions made by successive Indian governments and argues that some of the mistakes made in handling Kashmir contributed to the situation becoming more complicated.
What I found particularly interesting was that the author does not limit himself to discussing the historical development of the Kashmir conflict. He also examines the present situation and points out areas where he believes the government still needs to do more. Towards the end, he presents his own roadmap for addressing militancy, radicalization and the broader Kashmir issue.
Overall, I would recommend this book as a starting point for anyone interested in understanding global jihad, Pakistan-based terrorist organizations, their ideological and operational links with wider militant networks, and the complex history and continuing challenges surrounding Kashmir. It gives you a lot to think about and, importantly, encourages you to look further into the events, organizations and claims discussed in the book.
The book begins by tracing some of the major landmarks that contributed to the rise of global jihad, particularly three events: the Soviet invasion of Afghanistan, Ayatollah Khomeini’s Islamic Revolution in Iran, and the siege of the Grand Mosque in Mecca by Islamist extremists. The author explains how these events shaped the broader jihadi movement and eventually contributed to the emergence of networks of mujahideen, including those operating from Pakistan.
He also discusses the origins and ideology of Wahhabism and Deobandism, and explains how different schools and movements within the broader Islamic world influenced the development of militant organizations. The book goes into the emergence of organizations such as Jaish-e-Mohammad, Lashkar-e-Taiba, Hizbul Mujahideen, JKLF, Al-Qaeda and Jamaat-e-Islami, among others.
One aspect I found particularly interesting was the way the author connects these different organizations. Rather than looking at them as completely isolated entities, he explains the ideological links, overlapping networks, shared objectives, recruitment and training ecosystems, and, at times, the connections between Pakistan-based and international militant organizations. The book attempts to show how these groups, despite having different origins and specific agendas, could operate within a broader ideological and militant ecosystem and influence or support one another in different ways.
One section that particularly stands out is the discussion of the IC-814 hijacking and the release of Masood Azhar. The author examines the circumstances surrounding the decision and its subsequent consequences, faced by India.
The book also takes a look at Iran before and after the Islamic Revolution. It discusses the rule of Mohammad Reza Shah, the Westernization policies pursued during his reign, the opposition they generated, and the eventual rise of Ruhollah Khomeini. This provides useful context for understanding how political and religious movements can transform the trajectory of a country.
A substantial portion of the book is devoted to Kashmir. The author discusses the evolution of militancy, terror financing, recruitment and training networks, and the role played by various organizations and external actors. He also examines several decisions made by successive Indian governments and argues that some of the mistakes made in handling Kashmir contributed to the situation becoming more complicated.
What I found particularly interesting was that the author does not limit himself to discussing the historical development of the Kashmir conflict. He also examines the present situation and points out areas where he believes the government still needs to do more. Towards the end, he presents his own roadmap for addressing militancy, radicalization and the broader Kashmir issue.
Overall, I would recommend this book as a starting point for anyone interested in understanding global jihad, Pakistan-based terrorist organizations, their ideological and operational links with wider militant networks, and the complex history and continuing challenges surrounding Kashmir. It gives you a lot to think about and, importantly, encourages you to look further into the events, organizations and claims discussed in the book.
January 26, 2026
Hey everyone, how are you all? I hope everyone is doing well. It's been quite sometime that I wrote a review and I believe this particular book can be counted as my first dedicated book on the issue of militancy, terrorism, Islamic radicalization and fundamentalism. Abhinav Pandya has done a good job of identifying key differences between different terror organizations, their motivating factor, their bonhomie with each other, their relationship with Pakistan military establishment(ISI) and most importantly, the lull after the abrogation of article 370 in Kashmir which people are confusing as an end of militancy and separatist feeling which is far away from ground reality.
The most amazing aspects of this books that I particularly liked can be enumerated here as follows:
1) When a layman like me think of any terror organization, it really didn't make much of a difference if it was Lashkar-e-taiba, Jaish-e-mohammad, Hizbul Mujahideen etc. However, this book made me realize that these differentiations matter as it helps us to understand the puppet master behind any particular terrorist activity and what can be their motivations behind it. For example, LeT is a terror organization which can be considered as an unofficial state arm of Pakistan military so they rarely cross their masters in the establishment i.e. ISI. However, Jaish functions differently because their commitment to Islam is paramount and in order to achieve its objectives, they won't hesitate to disobey ISI as well. HM is a local terror organization of India which provides ground support to the aforementioned foreign terror organizations
2) One of the most important things that the author highlighted is that the war on India by Pakistan and its affiliated agents is not a war based on geopolitics. It is a Islamic fundamentalist war on India because they consider non-muslims to be kafirs and they would stop at nothing to carry out their objective of Ghazwa-e-Hind which is establishment of Islamic Caliphate in India. He has categorically said that Indian establishment tends to dissect in its narrative that their war is against terrorism and they harbor no ill will against the Pakistan as a nation but what we fail to realize is that Pakistan's birth's basis itself is its Muslim identity and Islamic tenets cannot reconcile with secularism. India needs to learn to be unabashed in its declaration of war on Pakistan because if their existence is predicted on our extinguishment then at the very least we need to return the favor in kind. Pakistan's disintegration is the only solution left
3) The last but not the least is that in the last 30 years of Islamic radicalization, Kashmir has literally turned into an international breeding ground of rabid Islamization. All the stories of Sufi syncretism with Hindus and their peace loving attitude is lionized at best and barely resembles any ground reality in today's Kashmir. Doing away with article 370 alone cannot detox the local population as well known Islamic clerics and speakers are coming to India to declare their solidarity with Kashmir and now even Kerala and West Bengal seems to be within their grip. We as Indians need to wake up and smell the coffee, as J Sai Deepak often says, because Kashmir seems to be a lost cause unless the state remains a UT without any existence of regional political parties
Definitely worth a read for someone who is planning to begin understanding Islamic dreams for Indian subcontinent
The most amazing aspects of this books that I particularly liked can be enumerated here as follows:
1) When a layman like me think of any terror organization, it really didn't make much of a difference if it was Lashkar-e-taiba, Jaish-e-mohammad, Hizbul Mujahideen etc. However, this book made me realize that these differentiations matter as it helps us to understand the puppet master behind any particular terrorist activity and what can be their motivations behind it. For example, LeT is a terror organization which can be considered as an unofficial state arm of Pakistan military so they rarely cross their masters in the establishment i.e. ISI. However, Jaish functions differently because their commitment to Islam is paramount and in order to achieve its objectives, they won't hesitate to disobey ISI as well. HM is a local terror organization of India which provides ground support to the aforementioned foreign terror organizations
2) One of the most important things that the author highlighted is that the war on India by Pakistan and its affiliated agents is not a war based on geopolitics. It is a Islamic fundamentalist war on India because they consider non-muslims to be kafirs and they would stop at nothing to carry out their objective of Ghazwa-e-Hind which is establishment of Islamic Caliphate in India. He has categorically said that Indian establishment tends to dissect in its narrative that their war is against terrorism and they harbor no ill will against the Pakistan as a nation but what we fail to realize is that Pakistan's birth's basis itself is its Muslim identity and Islamic tenets cannot reconcile with secularism. India needs to learn to be unabashed in its declaration of war on Pakistan because if their existence is predicted on our extinguishment then at the very least we need to return the favor in kind. Pakistan's disintegration is the only solution left
3) The last but not the least is that in the last 30 years of Islamic radicalization, Kashmir has literally turned into an international breeding ground of rabid Islamization. All the stories of Sufi syncretism with Hindus and their peace loving attitude is lionized at best and barely resembles any ground reality in today's Kashmir. Doing away with article 370 alone cannot detox the local population as well known Islamic clerics and speakers are coming to India to declare their solidarity with Kashmir and now even Kerala and West Bengal seems to be within their grip. We as Indians need to wake up and smell the coffee, as J Sai Deepak often says, because Kashmir seems to be a lost cause unless the state remains a UT without any existence of regional political parties
Definitely worth a read for someone who is planning to begin understanding Islamic dreams for Indian subcontinent
January 15, 2026
Detailed Book Review: https://yayaver.blogspot.com/2026/01/...
The Jihad Game: Inside Pakistan’s Dark War by Abhinav Pandya offers a detailed investigative account of how Pakistan's military, ISI, and jihadi networks transformed jihad into a core element of statecraft against India, focusing on Kashmir from the 1970s to today. Abhinav Pandya, a counter-terrorism expert, examines religious sectarianism, militant evolution, diverse terror networks, and India's policy shortcomings in the region.
Spanning 27 chapters, the book traces jihad origins, network growth, societal impacts, events like Article 370 abrogation and Operation Sindhu, plus ISI threats and countermeasures. It delivers policy recommendations for India against this enduring shadow war. Though well-researched with field depth, loose editing leaves key arguments implied, hindering narrative cohesion for tighter impact. Ideal for Kashmir-aware readers seeking strategic revelations.
The Jihad Game: Inside Pakistan’s Dark War by Abhinav Pandya offers a detailed investigative account of how Pakistan's military, ISI, and jihadi networks transformed jihad into a core element of statecraft against India, focusing on Kashmir from the 1970s to today. Abhinav Pandya, a counter-terrorism expert, examines religious sectarianism, militant evolution, diverse terror networks, and India's policy shortcomings in the region.
Spanning 27 chapters, the book traces jihad origins, network growth, societal impacts, events like Article 370 abrogation and Operation Sindhu, plus ISI threats and countermeasures. It delivers policy recommendations for India against this enduring shadow war. Though well-researched with field depth, loose editing leaves key arguments implied, hindering narrative cohesion for tighter impact. Ideal for Kashmir-aware readers seeking strategic revelations.
August 14, 2026
A compelling topic for anyone interested in understanding the region’s complex history and geopolitics; 1947pk is also an interesting resource to explore.
Displaying 1 - 6 of 6 reviews