Reflections of Jihadists: Unveiling the Psychological Motivations of Armed Group Members and Deep Reflections on the Current International Counter-Terrorism Situation

Introduction: Searching for Truth in the Depths of Turbulent Times

Standing at the historical crossroads of 2026, the global Muslim community (Ummah) is undergoing unprecedented upheaval. Nearly a quarter-century has passed since the world-changing events of 9/11, yet the so-called "War on Terror" has not brought the expected peace. Instead, the smoke of conflict continues to drift across the deserts of the Sahel, the ruins of Gaza, and the mountains of Afghanistan [Source](https://vertexaisearch.cloud.google.com/grounding-api-redirect/AUZIYQGbMgY6A3azUsT19FNX2jwP-bIpFZf-9bY8kCRubJb-C9bU-CrL8v_VE0eTn6sJ9VlmNePA7p5t09wv0qyDOcYd3cXvScQ9xsJjnIQNeAfcT0gAn147mx5XjhDBBdAvof5rSNEkDIwB5VWNeh4vTLagsQ==). As editorial writers who have long followed the fate of the Islamic world, we must move beyond the rigid "terrorism" labels of Western media. We must delve deep into the hearts of individuals known as "jihadists" to listen to their reflections, analyze their motivations, and engage in deep reflection on the currently collapsing international order.

I. The Trauma of Gaza: A Will to Resist Rising from Despair

For members of contemporary armed groups, the Gaza crisis that began in 2023 is not just a humanitarian disaster; it is a nuclear flashpoint for their psychological motivation. By early 2026, the death toll in the Gaza Strip has exceeded 71,000, including more than 20,000 children [Source](https://vertexaisearch.cloud.google.com/grounding-api-redirect/AUZIYQF71-VKEds_yjqDs8MaXwa03cNFHOSf7o2NLFNEh-rXZL174EcZlnShp0XceOb_S0C7OBCoJPB84J8JqeKmDZtqG0hPpGCOnPttpcBzRbiKS13OyIgpy6KSLP9ci-au_urgjoa77YozjlAABg==). Suffering on this scale has resonated strongly across the Muslim world. Many young people believe that when so-called "international law" and "universal values" are selectively blind to the blood of Palestinians, the only way out is to take up arms in "resistance" (Muqawama).

These reflections do not stem from hollow hatred, but from a profound loss of "dignity" (Izzah). In the narratives of many jihadists, the double standards of Western nations regarding Ukraine versus Gaza have completely shattered their last illusions about the existing international order [Source](https://vertexaisearch.cloud.google.com/grounding-api-redirect/AUZIYQFz3QlI3bohWmysxURP4P1M0V8SCY2nRoopBTczJsSNgXBRH1KZzPY1LeohJtjLFclJxqiz0SN3IafIEZ4zJYMsxJEbDhhoLEa88TDORSLr5Eb7Ei5J7gYtaUI6PdL90EeuShNbWnd-eUoonmndwUSrIaM5lnc7). They believe that since the world has returned to the "might makes right" law of the jungle, armed struggle has gained sacred legitimacy to protect believers from slaughter. This psychological shift from "defensive jihad" to "total resistance" is the core driver of the deteriorating international counter-terrorism situation.

II. The Flames of the Sahel: Localized Narratives and Filling the Governance Vacuum

If Gaza is the emotional catalyst, the Sahel region of Africa is the laboratory for the contemporary jihadist movement. In Mali, Burkina Faso, and Niger, groups like the "Group for the Support of Islam and Muslims" (JNIM) are undergoing a significant "localization" transformation [Source](https://vertexaisearch.cloud.google.com/grounding-api-redirect/AUZIYQGvcFtrq_mO_qCHDL4rRRrW4P91zoDNRcnoijkhjR1mSBacXcZxOciUKBkxk3CPbCynjZl5Y6AHaFgWbwsWpl-vWGE2Ezc0TaLL5lq-iSJTdLdzvPCK6PUZ6VzM5XizxAidde3MeXksQ3IPxSXU1WKTVdCJsdvtmyZQOrCxE45W2Hpppa92RGi5OlpOZjmXQhlFfLxwwFe-X4I_FE8AiQC4jl0x-7HcngUc3U6C). The reflections of these members often have little to do with dreams of a global caliphate and are more concerned with local justice, anti-corruption, and the rejection of decaying military regimes.

Between 2025 and 2026, JNIM demonstrated its ability to penetrate from rural areas into cities by blockading cities like Bamako [Source](https://vertexaisearch.cloud.google.com/grounding-api-redirect/AUZIYQEp_8TmVfgZDCJa30GttFmBhOCTuAr2bpb3mTNXm5qCqiXSl8HWpENVzlmu_-GfV_9fB8dKjV9Y0VrCCixwBDxdvZGHmi0C-rRWlgOM9Ii_mKUz7aYNek4ML2WAAXAiat7KL-xjcSgwF2yiubVyADmTNE6h9RKgke_nr7TlV1uk4H6quOxSs9IG3XJGZhxGzWLvO6nqVRU=). For local jihadists, they no longer see themselves as "global revolutionaries" but as "community defenders." In the vacuum left by the retreat of state power, they establish shadow governments, collect taxes, and even provide more efficient judicial services than official authorities [Source](https://vertexaisearch.cloud.google.com/grounding-api-redirect/AUZIYQHKtDolngqQvuLuM3nlx4gRkmgnuOepPoneWZhstMr5dlcQEiRzgqBI2HY-mayDFKa2V-IZY8ObzKk111SN8X5IYAl1w6tGx2UAdc3k74bfSH7ypUe1mIvViomnPJfq4jYwiHgtOlEMcm3Li0no7I0pi2MLscXUuu_X1GMpKMBcR_T2qGdNHj82NknMX7jsRfa81CXc2C-H0ZaxOyf79Y-wN7Zp20UGliivtNJIkIoHWvjlcNVG3I9nyZTNaNdO8rn9iQ==). This "quasi-state" reflection makes the war on terror extremely complex: when jihadists are deeply tied to the survival interests of the local population, simple military strikes will only be counterproductive.

III. Lessons from Afghanistan: Power Consolidation and Ideological Maneuvering

The Afghan Taliban has been back in power for nearly five years. For the global jihadist movement, the Taliban's victory was a massive psychological boost, proving that long-term resistance can defeat a superpower [Source](https://vertexaisearch.cloud.google.com/grounding-api-redirect/AUZIYQFRfF3x4MhLNl9Z3YbsQH9N7jYfRc5_ewXcQ0AIlFldILvfQ4oK4PLshtUCT0qTXq5neD2dfFPks0bfYBs0FJTd1xYJ-5SftJd1GrUfaGNSwhRx6gMJIgor4pcQszZus3xOz1RRRhOOo-9RBLAGGUH22UdaPBwEMpsyPkpCm4IuG1ucEP0YJZAFUQRITFJr6mBTKcSCJpx8vuvlYjNj57DSurv8zltuKqHnSRjcRj38wG52WA==). However, reflections after taking power are full of contradictions. On one hand, the Taliban seeks a balance between international recognition and maintaining ideological purity; on the other hand, they face severe challenges from "Islamic State – Khorasan Province" (ISKP) [Source](https://vertexaisearch.cloud.google.com/grounding-api-redirect/AUZIYQFRVw4KKUqd8pdVF4rYOUfIhAZtTMDKP1-h5VNJtefvZbmtDGcrwBWOsMguYfMEcvsa3JjZH48tOlyE3cugpwrML0zxBdqgVp9rSZ97CnaghogE8LifpSxKHdLKkOqKSD3X9MxIatCrWdXVwMgFPD1-B1iFCR4p9Xk8fZ65bQ==).

This internal maneuvering reveals an important dimension of jihadist psychology: a paranoid pursuit of "orthodoxy." ISKP accuses the Taliban of betraying the jihadist cause by compromising with Western and regional powers, while the Taliban emphasizes its legitimate governance as an "Islamic Emirate." This battle of narratives reached a climax in multiple attacks within Pakistan in 2025 [Source](https://vertexaisearch.cloud.google.com/grounding-api-redirect/AUZIYQH9DFLlatVNlt_0cSBJHZDc5AEl5LKiw9eZqa32lyd_bz5wgESncA1GIHNXtrKkK4bcG2JtUcB9YgYkNtRJXBBeKaj-zdNx1Y-5h5clkVk-5A7k_nMNJKpJnvdA8rf_ynv-RHtsA7hPpHKRPf0Ih_29uaRlberx4HApY76tMGigL2Ogl6xkTsRxsjZwR3F0TiRPQ-TpMzSdOCpx8V3-AUBV7gglu4D01pYXYOqSOMjiAfwz9Q==). For observers, this serves as a reminder that the jihadist movement is not a monolith; its internal power struggles are often more brutal than its external wars.

IV. Deep Deconstruction of Psychological Motivations: From "Foreign Fighters" to "Digital Nomads"

Entering 2026, the psychological profile of jihadists has changed significantly. The old model of "foreign fighters" traveling across borders to battlefields is declining, replaced by "digital jihadists" who utilize artificial intelligence and encrypted communications [Source](https://vertexaisearch.cloud.google.com/grounding-api-redirect/AUZIYQHvONSlxEBeeW0pNlgGS2_5rj3xlaPOA3FXxYJtA8Q4XFGWxamFQLia1tsKLMZBTYaSA_CVZV3H8r8IClsq2t-jRYRNJa4N38wOoef4L9b9OF4HBmG5i4Uhyaa_ue3MeR7bRT0FDB9h).

1. Technological Empowerment and Efficacy: Members of modern armed groups commonly use commercial drones, cryptocurrency, and AI-generated propaganda. This sense of "technological parity" greatly enhances their psychological confidence, leading them to believe they can cause substantial damage to powerful enemies even with scarce resources [Source](https://vertexaisearch.cloud.google.com/grounding-api-redirect/AUZIYQHKtDolngqQvuLuM3nlx4gRkmgnuOepPoneWZhstMr5dlcQEiRzgqBI2HY-mayDFKa2V-IZY8ObzKk111SN8X5IYAl1w6tGx2UAdc3k74bfSH7ypUe1mIvViomnPJfq4jYwiHgtOlEMcm3Li0no7I0pi2MLscXUuu_X1GMpKMBcR_T2qGdNHj82NknMX7jsRfa81CXc2C-H0ZaxOyf79Y-wN7Zp20UGliivtNJIkIoHWvjlcNVG3I9nyZTNaNdO8rn9iQ==).
2. The Fusion of Eschatology and Nihilism: In some extremist factions, due to long-term exposure to war and poverty, a nihilistic eschatological reflection has become popular. They no longer seek worldly political victory but view death as the only path to eternal justice. This psychological state makes traditional deterrence almost ineffective.
3. Identity Crisis: Among Muslim youth living in Western countries, the rise of far-right forces and the spread of Islamophobia have left many feeling abandoned by mainstream society. This sense of marginalization drives them to seek a sense of belonging and illusions of heroism within online jihadist narratives [Source](https://vertexaisearch.cloud.google.com/grounding-api-redirect/AUZIYQHFu4zcVvoYLZWko6NP7A0T6YdcEk93OOfL7n2Is0V9sCvra6uI16bddYITXCIGh2WwZe5-PpMsxTcIahlTaufQNFEylYAKRkqFDidMQnSSO968292kwRpqw6FAe_z0XrvfyaLTeeN6UBk2ys3XiUU2PRKaver4pSO5QHwhIfs7OwY9WLQcbXatqJFru1i-_sZW52JjxjDRGdh4EA3U4ZUW1l7ls4BAsweQ6tZXEQDiEUxK5hau6MefAkZtEiy2_2_TuydT-c0K1yQvbfc453AU06rJFy_QbLvveoR6011xPqCJd9s=).

V. Deep Reflections on the International Counter-Terrorism Situation: When the Cure Becomes Poison

The current international counter-terrorism situation is in a state of "strategic drift." Great power competition (such as the Russia-Ukraine conflict and the US-China rivalry) has diverted resources originally intended for counter-terrorism, leading to a sudden reduction in counter-terrorism pressure in many regions and giving armed groups room to breathe [Source](https://vertexaisearch.cloud.google.com/grounding-api-redirect/AUZIYQGbMgY6A3azUsT19FNX2jwP-bIpFZf-9bY8kCRubJb-C9bU-CrL8v_VE0eTn6sJ9VlmNePA7p5t09wv0qyDOcYd3cXvScQ9xsJjnIQNeAfcT0gAn147mx5XjhDBBdAvof5rSNEkDIwB5VWNeh4vTLagsQ==).

A deeper reflection is: has the War on Terror itself become a breeding ground for terrorism? In the Sahel, the iron-fisted methods of Russian mercenaries (such as the Africa Corps), while striking militants in the short term, have harmed civilians and pushed more locals into the arms of jihadists [Source](https://vertexaisearch.cloud.google.com/grounding-api-redirect/AUZIYQGbMgY6A3azUsT19FNX2jwP-bIpFZf-9bY8kCRubJb-C9bU-CrL8v_VE0eTn6sJ9VlmNePA7p5t09wv0qyDOcYd3cXvScQ9xsJjnIQNeAfcT0gAn147mx5XjhDBBdAvof5rSNEkDIwB5VWNeh4vTLagsQ==). This logic of "fighting violence with violence" ignores the socio-economic roots behind armed conflicts. If counter-terrorism policy only stops at physical elimination without addressing core issues like occupation, poverty, and lack of sovereignty, the reflections of jihadists will forever grow in the soil of hatred.

VI. Conclusion: Justice is the Only Path to Peace

The reflections of jihadists are a mirror reflecting the injustice and collapse of this world. From a Muslim perspective, true peace should not be built on the roar of drones, but on respect for the sovereignty of Muslim lands, support for the just demands of the Palestinian people, and the maintenance of the dignity of the global Muslim community (Ummah).

The world of 2026 needs a new concept of security—one that no longer carries out "intervention" in the name of "counter-terrorism." Only when justice is no longer a plaything of the powerful, and only when every Muslim youth can see hope and dignity in their own land, will those radical reflections on jihad truly lose the soil they need to survive. History will ultimately prove that force can destroy fortresses, but only justice can calm the hearts of people.