Dr. Abhinav Pandya, a Cornell University graduate in public affairs, and a bachelor’s from St. Stephen’s College, Delhi, is a policy analyst specializing in counterterrorism, Indian foreign policy, and Afghanistan-Pakistan geopolitics. He completed his Doctoral degree from the Jindal School of International Affairs (OP Jindal Global University).
- He is the founder, Director, and CEO of Usanas Foundation, India-based security, and foreign policy think tank. As a CEO, he has curated two international security and foreign policy conferences titled Maharana Pratap Annual Geopolitics Dialogue 2022 and 2023. He has extensively written for the National Interest (USA), Vivekananda International Foundation, Observer Research Foundation, South Asia Democratic Forum (Brussels), Haaretz (Israel), the Economic Times (India), HW News (India), Sunday Guardian, the Express Tribune (Pakistan), Huffington Post, Fair Observer (U.S.), Firstpost, Indian Defense Review, Indian Military Review, Policy Perspectives Foundation (India) and Quint.
- His research articles have appeared in peer-reviewed journals like Perspectives on Terrorism, (International Counter Terrorism Center, Hague), CLAWS Journal (CLAWS), and Strategic Analysis (IDSA). He has authored “Radicalization in India: An Exploration (Pentagon,2019).
- He has given lectures on geopolitics and security issues to NATO officers (Baltic Defence College), US Congressional Staff members, Yerevan Dialogue Series (Armenia), Vivekananda International Foundation, Central Reserve Police Force (India), the Bureau of Police Research and Development), the Indian Army, Jerusalem Institute of Strategic Studies, and Global Policy Institute. He has been interviewed by TV channels like News X (India), DD India, NBC (USA), Epoch Times, Zee News, Stratfor, Dainik Bhaskar, and many Ph.D. scholars working in terrorism studies.
- In the past, he has 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of Jammu and Kashmir on security issues during the critical times when Kashmir’s special status i.e. article 370 was revoked.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 Labor Organization, 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.
Brief Description about the Book – Terror Financing in Kashmir (Routledge, Taylor and Francis 2023)
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.
Books Published in the Past
Radicalization in India: An Exploration (Pentagon 2019)
Dr. Abhinav Pandya’s comprehensive research work on radicalization, viz. Radicalisation in India: An Exploration was published in March 2019 by the Pentagon publisher. The book resulted from extensive fieldwork and theoretical exploration of radicalization and terrorism. Beginning with a historical overview of extremist undercurrents in the Indian Islamic landscape, the book discusses the present scenario of the rapid growth of extremism among the Muslim communities of India.
- The author has discussed Kashmir and Kerala’s cases in detail as the two case studies. In Kashmir’s case, Dr Pandya analyses the ecosystem of extremism and terrorism in Kashmir. This work is the first detailed investigation of the role of Jamaat-i-Islami and international actors like Turkey and Pakistan in Kashmir. The book suggested a strategy to deal with Jamaat-e-Islami. Also, it is the first book that discusses the rising trend of homegrown suicide attackers in Kashmir. The book had indirectly forecasted Pulwama-styled suicide attacks. In Kerala’s case, this book is one of the earliest works that provides a detailed investigation of PFI and its affiliated organizations in Kerala. The book also offers a robust counter-radicalization strategy.
- Besides, Dr Pandya has written research-based articles on security and terrorism-related issues in international peer-reviewed and Scopus-indexed journals like Perspectives on Terrorism and Strategic Analysis. His opinion pieces are regularly published by prestigious national and international outlets like Haaretz, The National Interest, First Post, Sunday Guardian etc.
