Saturday, March 29, 2025
New Delhi, July 8, 2025: A startling revelation from the latest Financial Action Task Force (FATF) report has brought to light that materials used in both the 2019 Pulwama attack and the 2022 Gorakhnath Temple attack were sourced through online e-commerce platforms, including Amazon.
The report underscores the growing misuse of online marketplaces and payment gateways by terrorist groups to procure explosives and fund their operations discreetly.
According to FATF findings, aluminium powder, a key component used to amplify the explosive strength of the IED (Improvised Explosive Device) in the Pulwama attack, was purchased via Amazon.
The attack, orchestrated by Pakistan-based terror outfit Jaish-e-Mohammed, killed 40 CRPF personnel on February 14, 2019.
The investigation led to charges against 19 individuals, including 7 foreign nationals.
This marks a major instance of how legitimate online platforms are being exploited for lethal purposes.
FATF’s report also details the case of the 2022 attack at Gorakhnath Temple in Uttar Pradesh, where:
The assailant used VPNs to mask identity.
Carried out 44 international transactions via PayPal, sending over ₹6.69 lakh (~$8,000) to foreign accounts.
Received ₹10,323 through other digital means.
Explosive materials were allegedly purchased through online platforms, pointing again to e-commerce misuse.
FATF raises alarms over how terrorist groups are increasingly leveraging digital infrastructure:
Online marketplaces offer easy and anonymous access to potential weapon components.
Digital payment services like PayPal are being used to transfer and receive terror-linked funds across borders.
Some countries were found to be providing logistical or financial support to such networks.
The FATF warns that such trends pose serious new challenges to global security, making it easier for terrorists to plan, fund, and execute attacks under the radar.
The FATF report has once again highlighted the urgent need for tighter regulation and monitoring of online platforms, especially in the areas of e-commerce and digital payments. The use of platforms like Amazon and PayPal in high-profile terror attacks such as Pulwama and Gorakhnath represents a dangerous evolution in how modern terrorism operates.
Nations are now under pressure to strengthen cyber intelligence and cross-border cooperation to curb this new wave of tech-enabled terrorism.
