Doctor, Teacher, Terrorist: The Life and Legacy of Al-Qaeda Leader Ayman al-Zawahiri

Dr Sajjan Gohel teaches the following course at postgraduate level:

HY435 - Ideology, State, Jihad: Political Islam from Ibn Taymiyya to ISIS

Awards

Dr Sajjan Gohel has won the following teaching awards:

- NATO Centre of Excellence Award - Defence Against Terrorism (COE-DAT) Commendation for contribution to the academic research of terrorism.

- LSE Class Teacher Award - Co-Recipient of the Martin Abel Gonzalez Prize Winner.

- Students’ Union Teaching Excellence Awards commendations.

Dr Sajjan Gohel’s publications include:

Curriculums

• ‘NATO Counter-Terrorism Reference Curriculum (CTRC)’, NATO Defence Education Enhancement Programme (DEEP), (2020).

Articles

       • ‘The F-16 And Nuclear Security: The Fault Lines In The U.S.-Pakistani Relationship’, War on the Rocks, 16 November 2022.

        • ‘Afghanistan's Grim Future,’ American Legion - January 2022.

• 'The Taliban Are Far Closer to the Islamic State Than They Claim', Foreign Policy, 26 August 2021.

• ‘US withdrawal leaves many Afghans with little hope’, Financial Times, 17 April 2021.

• ‘Deciphering Ayman Al-Zawahiri and al-Qa’ida’s Strategic Imperatives,’ Perspectives on Terrorism, Vol 11, No 1 (2017).

• ‘The “Seventh Stage” of Terrorism in China’, CTC Sentinel, Vol 7 Issue 12, December, 2014.

• ‘Bangladesh: an Emerging Centre for Terrorism in Asia’, Perspectives on Terrorism, Vol 8, No 3, 2014.

• ‘Germany Increasingly a Center for Terrorism in Europe’, CTC Sentinel, Vol 4 Issue 8, August, 2011.

• ‘Iran’s Ambiguous Role in Afghanistan’, CTC Sentinel, Vol 3 Issue 3, March 2010.

• ‘The Internet and its Role in Terrorist Recruitment and Operational Planning’, CTC Sentinel, Vol 2 Issue 12, December 2009.

Book Chapters

• 'The Global-Local Nexus in the Kashmir Insurgency: The Jaish-e-Mohammed, the Pakistani Military and al-Qaeda’ in Exporting the Global Jihad: Critical Perspectives from the Periphery (London: Bloomsbury, 2020), pp.99-122.

• ‘Background Contributing Factors to Terrorism: Radicalization and Recruitment’, [with Francois Heisbourg, Rem Korteweg, Magnus Ranstorp, Rob De Wijk, in Magnus Ranstorp (ed), Understanding Violent Radicalisation: Terrorist And Jihadist Movements In Europe, (New York: Routledge, 2010), pp. 21-49

Written Testimony

        •  Uzbekistan, Tajikistan, and the Great Game 2.0, British House Of Commons Foreign Affairs Select Committee Report On The UK's Engagement in Central Asia, 28 April 2023.

• ‘NATO’s Counter-Terrorism Options For Enhanced Cooperation And Collaboration’, British House Of Commons Defence Select Committee Report on Indispensable allies: US, NATO and UK Defence relations inquiry, 19 November, 2017.

• ‘Understanding How The ISIL Ideology Directs Terrorism And The Necessity To Counter Its Narrative’, British House Of Commons Foreign Affairs Select Committee Report On The fight against ISIL: The UK's Role, 15 December, 2015.

• ‘Libya And The Cyrenaica Blowback’, British House Of Commons Foreign Affairs Select Committee Report on Extremism and Political Instability in North and West Africa, 29 May, 2013.

• ‘Afghanistan – Pakistan (AfPak): Britain’s Challenges, Dilemmas and Strategic Imperatives’, British House Of Commons Foreign Affairs Select Committee Report On The UK's Foreign Policy towards Afghanistan and Pakistan, Evidence 514, 17 November, 2010.

• ‘The Afghanistan—Pakistan Border Areas: Challenges, Threats And Scenarios’, British House Of Commons Foreign Affairs Select Committee Report On Global Security: Afghanistan and Pakistan, Evidence 132, 22 January, 2009.

PhD Thesis

• ‘Insurrection of the Ideologues: The Evolution of Egyptian Islamist Radical Thought from Hasan al-Banna to Ayman al-Zawahiri’, Department of International History of the London School of Economics & Political Science, Doctor of Philosophy, London, 2009.

Op-Eds and Contributions

       • ‘NATO helps Jordan enhance its counter-terrorism capacity’, NATO, 12 January 2023.

       • ‘Doctor, Teacher, Terrorist - The Making of a Global Terrorist Leader’, Taking The Leap, 19 December 2022.

       • ‘Europe has labelled Russia a state sponsor of terror. What next?’, Al-Jazeera, 24 November 2022.

       • ‘9/11 Remembered, Voices Centre for Resilience’, 11 September 2022.

       • ‘The face of China: A globetrotting diplomat armed with U.S. admonitions’, The New York Times, 21 August 2022.

       • ‘Killed at 71, Ayman al-Zawahri Led a Life of Secrecy and Violence’, The New York Times, 1 August 2022.

       • ‘Saudi Arabia puts 81 people to death in kingdom's largest mass execution’, ITN, 12 March 2022.

       • ‘Podcast series launched on NATO’s role in the fight against terrorism’, NATO, 22 November 2021.

       • ‘A win for Pakistan: Imran Khan gambles on Taliban ties’, Financial Times, 30 September 2021.

       • ‘Here's what's happening in Afghanistan and why women are scared out of their minds amid Taliban takeover’, Four Nine, 5 September 2021.

       • ‘Where do the Taliban get their money and weapons from?’, The Independent, 1 September 2021.

       • ‘Europa será el principal blanco de los atentados si hay radicalización en Afganistán’, El Mundo, 31 August 2021.

       • ‘Abandonment of Kabul is worse than the fall of Saigon’, The Australian, 28 August 2021.

       • ‘Afghanistan civil war fears as Taliban battles Isis-K, Panjshir Valley rebels… and itself’, I News, 28 August 2021.

       • ‘The Real Winner of the Afghan War? It’s Not Who You Think’, New York Times, 26 August 2021.

       • ‘The story of an Afghan man who fell from the sky’, Washington Post, 26 August 2021.

       • ‘Who Are ISIS-K?’, UK Forces News, 25 August 2021.

       • ‘The men preparing to rule Afghanistan: key players in the Taliban’s power structure’, The Independent, 18 August 2021.

       • ‘From 300,000 to a Few Hundred: What Happened to Afghanistan’s Army’, US News & World Report, 18 August 2021.

        • ‘Afghanistan: Will it become haven for terror with the Taliban in power?’, BBC News, 17 August 2021.

        • ‘Afghanistan TV news station resumed broadcasting with courageous female anchors after Taliban takeover’, I News, 17 August 2021.

        • ‘Surreal Footage Appears to Show Taliban Militants Driving Bumper Cars and Lifting Weights’, Vice News, 17 August 2021.

        • ‘The Forever War: why Afghanistan has been this generation’s Vietnam’, The Article, 10 August 2021.

        • ‘Why a Taliban victory may not be everything Pakistan wished for’, Christian Science Monitor, 26 July 2021.

        • ‘Joe Biden’s Afghan pullout could end in tragedy’, The Financial Times, 26 July 2021.

        • ‘No Do-Overs in Afghanistan: The U.S. Cannot Re-Enter Once It Leaves’, US News & World Report, 19 July 2021.

        • ‘China calls on Pakistan to punish perpetrators of terrorist attack on bus’, The Financial Times, 15 July 2021.

        • ‘Afghanistan withdrawal stokes fears of al-Qaeda comeback’, BBC News, 7 July 2021.

        • ‘Leaving Afghanistan: The End of an Era’, US News & World Report, 16 April 2021.

        • ‘Peace summit’, The Monocle, 22 February 2021.

        • ‘NATO implements Counter-Terrorism Reference Curriculum in Ukraine’, NATO, 5 February 2021.

• ‘This Time, Russia Is in Afghanistan to Win’, Foreign Policy magazine, 1 July, 2020.

• ‘A complex tapestry of collusion and cooperation: Afghanistan and Pakistan’s terrorism networks’, South Asia @ LSE Blog, 5 June, 2020.

• ‘The terrorist-crime nexus connecting South Asia to Southeast Asia’, South Asia @ LSE Blog, 2 October, 2019.

• ‘Where Things Stand In Afghanistan’, The Beaver, 8 January, 2018

• ‘How Uzbekistan became ripe recruiting territory for ISIS’, CNN Online, 1 November, 2017.

• ‘Higher education, Afghanistan’s best weapon against extremism’, International Development Blog, 17 July 2017.

• ‘Despite security challenges, Afghanistan’s education system has come a long way’, South Asia @ LSE Blog, 17 July 2017.    

• ‘Afghanistan: losses, setbacks and impending challenges (part 2)’, South Asia @ LSE Blog, 12 May 2017.         

• ‘Afghanistan: losses, setbacks and impending challenges (part 1)’, South Asia @ LSE Blog, 11 May 2017.         

• ‘The challenges of EU counter-terrorism cooperation’, Europe’s World, 12 December, 2016

• ‘As the Baloch issue continues to be handled militarily rather than politically a peaceful resolution is unlikely’ South Asia @ LSE Blog, 9 Nov 2016.

• ‘As the Taliban increase the tempo of violence in Afghanistan they face new competition from the rising Wilayat Khorasan’, South Asia @ LSE Blog, 2 August 2016.          

• ‘The nexus of local and international extremist networks in Bangladesh’, South Asia @ LSE Blog, 22 July, 2016.

• ‘Paris fallout: Why the West has to recalculate its ISIS strategy’, CNN Opinion, 17 November, 2015.

• ‘Afghanistan: Green-on-blue attacks show there's no easy way out’, CNN Online, 18 September, 2012.

• ‘Pakistan Crucial In The Fight Against Taliban’, CNN Online, 9 August, 2010.

‘Were Mumbai attacks inspired by al Qaeda?’, CNN Online, 1 December, 2008.

• ‘Pakistan: Creating A Haven For Al Qaeda’, ABC Online, 30 December, 2007.

• ‘Terror Group Thought to be Defeated Now on Attack in Algeria’, ABC Online, 12 December, 2007.

• 'What is going on in Moussaoui's mind?', CNN Online, 28 March, 2006.

• ‘The Two Sides of Pervez Musharraf’, Club de Madrid, 18 August, 2006.

• ‘Tackling the invisible enemy submerged within the UK’, Op-ed, The Scotsman, 20th January, 2005.

• ‘The Consequences Of The Assassination of Rafiq Hariri’, WRITENET & The Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR), 21 March, 2005.

• ‘Political Standoff in Sri Lanka’, Royal United Services Institute, Newsbrief, 21 January 2004.

Booklet

• Supporting Muslim Students: A Quick Reference Guide for Teachers, Trainers and Lecturers, [with Sheikh Mohammed Abdi Dahir, Angus Dunphy, Paul Fitzpatrick, Hifsa Haroon-Iqbal, Barrie Phillips, Shaykh Asim Yusuf], Getting On Together (GOT) Project, (Melton: John Catt Educational, 2017)

Presentations

Dr Sajjan Gohel’s presentations include:

• ‘NATO Counter-Terrorism Education & Training Programme’, Jordanian Armed Forces, Zarqa, Jordan, 9 to 13 January 2023.

• ‘Global Terrorism and the Impact in the Asia Pacific Region’, LinCT & New South Wales Police, Sydney, Australia, 23 November 2022.

• ‘The Global Security Challenges’, Toronto Police Service and Royal Canadian Mounted Police (RCMP), Toronto, Canada, 2 November 2022.

• ‘Emergence of the FTF Phenomenon’, United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC), Bali, Indonesia, 11 October 2022.

• ‘The Global Security Ramifications of the Taliban Takeover of Afghanistan’, Voices Center of Resilience, September 11 Memorial, New York, United States, 11 September 2022.

• ‘The Global Security Ramifications of the Taliban Takeover of Afghanistan’, Counter-Terrorism Dialogue 5, Jakarta Centre for Law Enforcement Cooperation (JCLEC) & Australian Federal Police, Semarang, Indonesia, 15 June 2022.

• ‘The Global Security Ramifications of the Taliban Takeover of Afghanistan,’ Naval Postgraduate School (NPS), Monterey, United States, 16 September 2021.

• ‘The Evolving Face of Terrorism’, Police Scotland, Glasgow, United Kingdom, 28 August 2019.

• ‘The Global Terrorism Landscape’, Combating Terrorism Working Group, Polish Naval Academy, Gdynia, Poland, 15-17 July 2019.

• ‘Foreign Fighters & Potential Returnees’, Interpol Conference, Lisbon, Portugal, 25 June 2019.

• ‘The Evolving Terrorist Threat: From FTF to RFTF’, International Institute for Justice, Valetta, Malta, 20 June 2019.

• ‘Foreign Fighters & Potential Returnees’, LinCT and Royal Canadian Mounted Police, Ottawa, Canada, 18 June 2019.

• ‘The Global Terrorism Landscape’, Foreign Law Enforcement Community (FLEC) Meeting, Ankara, Turkey, 31 August, 2018.

• ‘Addressing The Potential Threats And Challenges of Returning FTFs’, 2018 OSCE Counter-Terrorism Conference, Rome, Italy, 11 May, 2018.

• ‘The Returnee Foreign Terrorist Fighters’, NATO Defence Against Terrorism Course, Oberammergau, Germany, 25 April, 2018.

• ‘Security Challenges in Afghanistan (AfPak) & Resurgence of al-Qaeda’, NATO Defence Against Terrorism Course, Oberammergau, Germany, 24 April, 2018.

• ‘Global Terrorism Overview’, NATO Defence Against Terrorism Course, Oberammergau, Germany, 23 April, 2018.

• ‘The Current And Emerging Terrorist Challenges In South Asia & Central Asia’, Interpol’s Project Kalkan, Lyon, France, 28 March, 2018.

• ‘The Changing Face of Terrorism’, Leadership in Counter-TerrorismUK, Scotland,14 March, 2018

• ‘Countering Violent Extremism: Demystifying the Ideology’, Leadership in Counter-Terrorism, Victoria Police, Melbourne, Australia, 12 December, 2017.

• ‘After The Fall of the Caliphate: International Terrorism’s On-Going Concerns & Challenges’, Sydney Institute, Sydney, Australia, 7 December, 2017.

• ‘The Current And Emerging Terrorist Challenges In South Asia & Central Asia’, Interpol’s Project Kalkan, Colombo, Sri Lanka, 21 November, 2017.

• ‘Tactics, Strategies and Blow-Back: The Current Global Terrorism Challenges’, Calgary Police Service 2017 Counter Terrorism Conference,Calgary, Canada, 18 October, 2017.

• ‘The Counter-Terrorism Challenges in the UK and Europe’, China Institute of International Strategic Studies (CIISS), Beijing, China, 22 August, 2017.

• ‘Global Terrorism and Border Security’, NATO Defence Against Terrorism Course, Oberammergau, Germany, 10 July, 2017.

• ‘Blow-Back, Tactics & Virtual Terrorism 3.0’, PfPC Combating Terrorism Working Group (CTWG), Garmisch-Partenkirchen, Germany, 30 May, 2017.

• ‘Border Security Challenges & The Blow-Back From Foreign Terrorist Fighters’, Organization for Security & Cooperation in Europe (OSCE) Security Committee, Vienna, Austria, 22 May, 2017.

• ‘European Challenges & Responses To Violent Extremism & Radicalization That Lead To Terrorism’, World Counter Terror Congress, London, United Kingdom, 3 May, 2017.

• ‘Emerging Challenges In Terrorism & The Blow-Back From Foreign Terrorist Fighters’, SO15 Ports Communication Day, London, United Kingdom, 20 April, 2017.

• ‘The Changing Face of Terrorism’, Leadership in Counter-Terrorism (LinCT) UK Alumni Annual Conference, Scotland, United Kingdom, 22 February, 2017.

• ‘Foreign Terrorist Fighters & Irregular Migration Routes: Prevention & Resilience’, Combating Terrorism Working Group & Albanian Prime Minister’s Office, Durrës, Albania, 14 September, 2016

• ‘Global Terrorism: Daesh vs Al-Qa’ida’, NATO Defence Against Terrorism Course, Oberammergau, Germany, 23 May, 2016.

• ‘The Contemporary Threats & Challenges Of FTF’s To International Security’, Addressing the Foreign Fighters Phenomenon & Counter-Terrorism Strategies, OSCE Border Management Staff College, Dushanbe, Tajikistan, 24 October, 2016.

• ‘Understanding & Preventing Daesh’s Radical Narrative’, 13th Annual Nursing Conference, London, United Kingdom, 12^th May, 2016.

• ‘The Emerging Challenges in South Asia & Potential Blow-Back to the Five Eyes’, Leadership in Counter-Terrorism (LinCT), New York City, United States, 27 April, 2016.

• ‘The History & Evolution of Daesh’, National Prevent Practitioners Forum, National Police Chief’s Council, Leicester, United Kingdom, 6 April, 2016.

• ‘Terrorism & The Migrant Dynamic’, Migration Crisis: Security Challenges & Policy Recommendations, PfPC Combating Terrorism Working Group (CTWG), Garmisch-Partenkirchen, Germany, 2^nd June, 2016.

• ‘Challenges of Identification Of FTF In Mass Migrations Flows’, Transnational Threats Seminar, OSCE Mobile Training Team for Transnational Threats, Garmisch-Partenkirchen, Germany, 30^th August, 2016.

• ‘The History & Evolution of Daesh’, SO15 Ports Communication Day, Metropolitan Police, London, United Kingdom, 21^st April, 2016.

• ‘The History of ISIL:  Remaining and Expanding’,National Ports Counter-Terrorism Conference, National Police Chief’s Council (NPCC), Birmingham, United Kingdom, 25^th November, 2015.

• ‘British Foreign Fighters and Potential Impacts on Euro-Atlantic/Eurasian Security’, Terrorism Experts Conference, NATO COE-DAT, Ankara, Turkey, 13^th October, 2015.

• ‘The Ideological Doctrine Shaping Emerging Trends in Trans-National Terrorism’, Counter Terrorism Conference, Calgary Police Service, Calgary, Canada, 16^th September, 2015.

• ‘From Al-Qa’ida To Daesh (ISIL): Assessing the Evolution Of The Ideological Narrative & Violent Extremism’, Combating Terrorism Working Group, Garmisch-Partenkirchen, Germany, 28^th July, 2015.

• ‘Countering And Demystifying The Radical Narrative’, National Prevent Conference (Part II), Association of Chief Police Officers, Oxford, United Kingdom, 25^th February, 2015.

• ‘Countering And Demystifying The Radical Narrative’, National Prevent Conference (Part I), Association of Chief Police Officers, Manchester, United Kingdom, 11^th February, 2015.

 

Dr Sajjan Gohel is regularly consulted and quoted by the international news media. Some of these contributions include:

2022

• 'Saudi Arabia puts 81 people to death in kingdom's largest mass execution', ITV News, 12 March 2022 (quoted).

2021

• 'Afghanistan withdrawal stokes fears of al-Qaeda comeback', BBC News, 7 June 2021 (quoted).

2020

• ‘Saudi Arabia forces Pakistan to repay loans in diplomatic spat’, Financial Times, 13 August 2020.

• ‘La única pista en la misteriosa masacre de la maternidad de Kabul: fueron todos’, El País, 3 July, 2020.

• NATO launches Counter-Terrorism Reference Curriculum, NATO, 12 June, 2020.

• ‘Pakistan’s Imran Khan sidelined by military during coronavirus outbreak’, Financial Times, 25 April, 2020.

2019

• ‘U.S. Retreat From Syria Strengthens Russia’s Hand’, US News & World Report, 15 October, 2019.

• ‘Concerns terror cell in Sri Lanka large and well-connected’, CNN, 23 April, 2019.

• ‘Expert warns political tensions could have contributed to breakdown in intelligence sharing’, CNN, 22 April, 2019

• ‘Born into al-Qaida: Hamza bin Laden’s rise to prominence’, Associated Press, 18 March, 2019.

• ‘Suspect live-streamed New Zealand mosque shootings to spark a race war', CBC, 15 March, 2019.

• ‘The Partnership for Peace Consortium’s Combating Terrorism Working Group leads the North Africa Regional Tabletop Exercise’, Partnership for Peace Consortium (PfPC), 18 July, 2019.

2017

• ‘Haqqani network's loss of hostages raises concerns over possible quid pro quo’, CBC News, 13 October, 2017.

• ‘Britain grapples with ‘new normal’ as subway bomb injures 29’, The Globe and Mail, 15 September, 2017.

• ‘Number of fatal terrorist attacks in western Europe increasing, data show’, Reuters, 12 July, 2017.

• ‘What Might Brexit Mean for Counterterrorism in Europe?’, PBS Frontline, 11 July, 2017.

• ‘Sajjan Gohel: terrorism expert on what next’, Radio New Zealand, 11 June, 2017.

• ‘British authorities overwhelmed with task of monitoring potential threats’, CBS News, 6 June, 2017.

• ‘London attack: Britons should 'brace themselves' for more terror incidents during Ramadan, expert warns’, The Independent, 5 June, 2017.

• ‘London terror attack: 'Brace ourselves' for further attacks, says security expert’, The Evening Standard, 4 June, 2017.

• ‘ISIL's Attack On Marawi A Signal Of Intent In The Philippines’, Euronews, 2 June, 2017.

• ‘Sajjan Gohel on IS: 'NATO needs to put boots on the ground (Part One)’, BBC ‘This Week’, 26 May, 2017.

• ‘Sajjan Gohel on IS: 'NATO needs to put boots on the ground (Part Two)’, BBC ‘This Week’, 26 May, 2017.

• ‘Would a ‘European FBI’ help prevent terror attacks?’, Debating Europe, 22 May, 2017.

2016

• ‘Belgian Federal Police Chief Braces For New ISIS Terror Attacks’, Newsweek, 29 November, 2016.

• ‘Not just ISIS: Terror groups worldwide jockey for power’, CNN, 1 September, 2016.

• ‘Who are the terror groups jostling for influence in Bangladesh?’, CNN, 3 July, 2016.

• ‘Does Bin Laden's death leave a lasting legacy?’, BBC, 2 May 2016.

• ‘Airport Security Can't Start And End With Checking Luggage’, Newsweek, 5 April, 2016.

• ‘Who are the Pakistan Taliban?’, CNN, 30 March, 2016.

• ‘Why Belgium? Five reasons terrorists struck heart of Europe’, CNN, 27 March, 2016.

• ‘Paris Attacker, Europe’s ’Most Wanted Man,’ Caught in Belgium’, U.S. News & World Report, 18 March, 2016.

• ‘Highlighting the Religious Hypocrisy of ISIS’, The Huffington Post, 5 February, 2016.

• ‘ISIS militant ordered Jakarta attack from abroad, police chief says’, CNN, 15 January, 2016.

2015

• ‘Deprived Brussels Neighborhood at Heart of Paris Terror Investigation’, VOA, 18 November, 2015.

• ‘The Rise Of Terrorism Inspired By Religion In France’, FiveThirtyEight, 14 November, 2015

• ‘The Bangkok Bomb Blast’, CNN, 18 August, 2015.

• ‘A Third Road for Xinjiang’, The Diplomat, 25 April, 2015.

• ‘Kenya terrorist attack: 6 things you need to know’, CNN, 2 April, 2015.

• ‘ISIS militant Jihadi John identified’, CNN, 26 February, 2015.

• ‘Yemen Instability Threatens U.S. Terror Fight’, U.S. News & World Report, 15 February, 2015.

• ‘Anger boils in Jordan over ISIS killing of pilot: What comes next?’, CNN, 5 February, 2015.

• ‘Failed suicide bomber takes center stage in Goto hostage negotiations’, Japan Times, 27 January, 2015.

• ‘Paris terror attacks: The importance of Djamel Beghal’, CNN, 15 January, 2015.