---
title: "Indians among most likely in the world to see extremist groups as ‘major threat’"
description: "A 2013 poll we conducted showed that globally Indians are among the most likely to say that Islamic extremist groups pose a “major threat” to their country. "
date: "2014-09-10"
authors:
  - name: "Neha Sahgal"
    job_title: "Vice President, Research"
    link: "https://www.pewresearch.org/staff/neha-sahgal/"
url: "https://www.pewresearch.org/short-reads/2014/09/10/indians-among-most-likely-in-the-world-to-see-extremist-groups-as-major-threat/"
categories:
  - "Beliefs & Practices"
  - "Hinduism"
  - "International Terrorism"
  - "Islam"
  - "Muslims Around the World"
  - "Terrorism"
---

# Indians among most likely in the world to see extremist groups as ‘major threat’

[![Islamic Extremists As Threat to Country](https://www.pewresearch.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/20/2014/09/FT_Islamic.Extremists.Threat.Country.png)](https://www.pewresearch.org/global/2013/06/24/climate-change-and-financial-instability-seen-as-top-global-threats/)

Although India is home to the world’s second-largest Muslim population, [al-Qaeda](http://www.bbc.com/news/world-asia-india-20590302) has so far had only a limited presence in the country. But last week, India’s intelligence agencies reportedly were put on [high alert](http://www.aljazeera.com/news/asia/2014/09/india-high-alert-after-al-qaeda-threats-201494161413124487.html) after the terrorist group’s leader, Ayman al-Zawahiri, released [a video](http://www.nytimes.com/2014/09/05/world/asia/al-qaeda-announces-new-branch-on-indian-subcontinent.html?hp&action=click&pgtype=Homepage&version=HpSum&module=b-lede-package-region&region=top-news&WT.nav=top-news&_r=1) announcing the establishment of a new al-Qaeda branch on the Indian subcontinent and warning of additional jihadist activity in the region.

Al-Zawahiri also warned that al-Qaeda will be ramping up its efforts to recruit and train Indian Muslims to fight for the group. Al-Qaeda may hope to exploit the sometimes tense relationship between India’s Hindu majority and Muslim minority, which makes up 14% of the country’s population of 1.2 billion, according to a 2010 Pew Research Center [estimate](https://www.pewresearch.org/religion/2012/12/18/table-religious-composition-by-country-in-numbers/). In his video, al-Zawahiri specifically addresses Muslims residing in the Indian state of Gujarat, which in 2002 was the site of the worst [religious riots](http://www.bbc.com/news/world-asia-india-17200961) since the partition of the subcontinent.

In 2008, [shooting attacks](http://www.hindustantimes.com/news/specials/mumbaiattacksrevisited/index.html) in Mumbai killed 166 people and wounded 300 others over the course of four days. The attacks were carried out by the members of the Islamic extremist Lashkar-e-Taiba, a group mostly operating in the Indian subcontinent with main goal of liberating [Kashmir](http://www.bbc.com/news/10537286), a disputed territory between India and Pakistan, from Indian control. Lashkar-e-Taiba is also held responsible for the 200o attack on the [Red Fort](http://www.bbc.com/news/world-south-asia-14471793), a historical landmark in New Delhi.

A [2013 poll](https://www.pewresearch.org/global/2013/06/24/climate-change-and-financial-instability-seen-as-top-global-threats/) we conducted of 40 countries showed that, globally, Indians are among the most likely to say that [Islamic extremist groups pose a major threat](https://www.pewresearch.org/global/2014/03/31/chapter-2-indians-view-the-world/) to their country. Two-in-three Indians said that Islamic extremist groups are a major security concern. Worries about Islamic extremist groups were about the same in Senegal, where 67% said Islamic extremist groups are a major threat. Only in Italy (74%), France (71%) and Lebanon (70%) did a slightly higher proportion of adults share the view that Islamic extremist groups are a serious national threat.