Saman Ayesha Kidwai

The strike against Zawahiri is being hailed as a vindication of the US’s ‘over-the-horizon’ strategy in eradicating terrorism without placing boots on the ground.

• Published: August 16, 2022
• Issue Brief

Women play active roles in sustaining and facilitating extremist activities on the African continent.

• Published: July 15, 2022
• IDSA Comments

Research Analyst, Manohar Parrikar IDSA, Ms Saman Ayesha Kidwai’s article ‘The ideological and non-ideological underpinnings of violent extremism: An American study’ has been published in Modern Diplomacy, on 14 July 2022.

Although there is no universal definition of violent extremism, United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organisation believes it to be “the beliefs and actions of people who support or use violence to achieve ideological, religious or political goals,” including “terrorism and other forms of politically motivated violence”, says Ms Kidwai.

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• Published: 14 July, 2022

Far-right extremism, rooted in the anti-Semitic, White supremacist Nazi and Fascist ideologies of the 20th century, has gained popularity across first world countries.

• Published: July 06, 2022
• Issue Brief

Research Analyst, Manohar Parrikar IDSA, Ms Saman Ayesha Kidwai’s article ‘Global Terrorist Trends 2020 to 2022: An analysis’ has been published in Modern Diplomacy on 03 June 2022.

Terrorist threats have magnified over the past few years, gradually subsuming efforts to prioritise socio-economic development, particularly in fragile states, says Ms Kidwai.

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• Published: 3 June, 2022

Research Analyst, Manohar Parrikar IDSA, Ms Saman Ayesha Kidwai’s article ‘Video games: The alt-right's radicalisation toolkit in the West’ has been published in Modern Diplomacy on 14 May 2022.

Alt-right’s radicalisation of youth and adults has moved beyond online chat forums and grassroots demonstrations to video games’ virtual reality, particularly in the western world, through avenues such as Roblox, says Ms Kidwai.

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• Published: 14 May, 2022

Research Analyst, Manohar Parrikar IDSA, Ms Saman Ayesha Kidwai’s article ‘Afghanistan's Forgotten War: The Clash Between the Taliban and ISKP’ has been published in Modern Diplomacy on 13 May 2022.

Amid the Ukrainian war, the Afghan crisis accurately represents a forgotten conflict. Notably, the rivalry between the Taliban and the Islamic State in Khorasan Province (ISKP), personified by violence and instability, has, much to the detriment of analysts, continued to bleed the country dry, say Ms Kidwai.

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• Published: 13 May, 2022

Research Analyst, Manohar Parrikar IDSA, Ms Saman Ayesha Kidwai’s article “The UK's ‘Separation Centres’: Re-visiting counter-terror measures” was has been published in ‘Modern Diplomacy’ on 01 May 2022.

Prisons are breeding grounds for radicalisation within their walls and recruitment for terrorism acts carried out post the inmates’ release. The leaders’ personality and ability to cultivate a cult-like following among the potential recruits mould the fruition or failure of these security threats worldwide. While this is not a novel security challenge, as the following portion about the rise of the Islamic State attests, the Boris Johnson-led administration appears to now bolster its efforts to confront the complex reality, says Ms Kidwai.

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• Published: 1 May, 2022

The false compliance present within the radicalised individuals and convicted terrorist offenders pose a considerable threat to the society, following their release from de-radicalisation-based institutions.

• Published: January 28, 2022
• IDSA Comments

The coming of Taliban to power in Afghanistan could upset the geopolitical applecart in Central Asia and adjoining regions. The growing association of radical Uyghur groups like the ETIM, with IS-K and the spread of jihadist operations in Central Asia could have significant implications for regional and international powers, particularly for China and its ambitious plans for Silk Road imperialism.

• Published: November 29, 2021
• IDSA Comments