Al-Qaida offshoot carried out November 2025 Red Fort blast that killed 15: UN report
UN monitors said AQIS carried out the November 2025 Red Fort blast and warned the group is expanding its network across South Asia, including Bangladesh
The November 2025 blast near Delhi’s Red Fort, which claimed 15 lives, was carried out by an offshoot of the global terrorist organisation Al-Qaida, according to a report by the United Nations Security Council’s monitoring team. The report also warned about the group’s growing network across the region.
In a significant development in the international assessment of the attack, the Analytical Support and Sanctions Monitoring Team's report said Al-Qaida in the Indian Subcontinent (AQIS) remained active in southeastern Afghanistan and was seeking to use Bangladesh as a base to establish operational cells.
AQIS expands regional terror network
Al-Qaida in the Indian Subcontinent (AQIS, not listed) has gradually transformed from a fragmented group into a regional terrorist organisation, building logistics and financial networks while operating through small, decentralised and scattered cells rather than large formations. The November 2025 attack on Delhi’s Red Fort was initially linked to AQIS. There were also concerns that the group could attempt to use Bangladesh to set up cells.
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According to the report, AQIS has moved from being a fragmented and weakened outfit to becoming a more organised regional terrorist network. Instead of relying on large formations, the group is increasingly operating through small, decentralised cells, making it harder for security agencies to identify and disrupt its activities.
The UN monitors also pointed to the group’s logistics and financial networks, indicating that AQIS has maintained the ability to plan and support attacks despite years of sustained counterterrorism efforts.
The Red Fort attack has been cited in the report as an indication of the group’s renewed ability to carry out operations.
The report also warned that AQIS could look to expand its presence in Bangladesh by setting up new cells, potentially extending its operational reach further across South Asia.
Terror groups increasingly exploit AI
The UN report also highlights the growing use of artificial intelligence by terrorist organisations and their supporters.
According to the monitoring team, operatives have increasingly turned to AI tools, including ChatGPT, to seek information related to bomb-making and target selection.
The report said Islamic State Khorasan Province (ISIL-K) has also been using AI to translate and disseminate propaganda rapidly across multiple languages, allowing the group to reach a wider audience.