Intel agencies wary over AQIS threat to target cities

The Times of India
 Bharti Jain
 December 29, 2017

The Indian security establishment is taking the threat issued by the al-Qaida in Indian Subcontinent (AQIS) in a recent video very seriously, as it specifically asks 'jihadi' fighters to target the Indian Army outside its "small, secure area of Kashmir" by striking in cities like Delhi, Kolkata and Bengaluru.

"The specific call by AQIS spokesperson Usama Mahmoud, a Pakistani, asking Kashmiri 'fighters' and Muslims across the subcontinent to target the Army in Delhi, Kolkata and Bengaluru so that it 'comes to its senses' is reminiscent of Indian Mujahideen's modus operandi of sending out warning letters and e-mails just before terror blasts in various Indian cities. So all necessary precautions are being taken," an intelligence official told TOI.

Mansoor Asghar Peerbhoy, head of the Indian Mujahideen's media cell and a former employee of Yahoo, used to issue warning letters/emails, allegedly at ISI's behest, before the attacks by the outfit. Such emails were received before the September 13, 2008 Delhi blasts; besides the Ahmedabad and Jaipur blasts. Often, these emails would mock the Indian intelligence agencies and law enforcement agencies and even dare them to trace origins of the email.

While the concerned cities have been alerted in the wake of AQIS video, the Indian agencies are worried but not panicky about impact of the threats issued by AQIS and via pro-Islamic State media network Al-Qaraar, within Kashmir. A senior intelligence official said as neither of the two groups has a notable presence or following in the Valley.

Pro-IS media channel Al-Qaraar had on Tuesday identified the alleged Kashmiri fighter seen in a video released on Christmas as, Abu Yahya al-Istashtadi—the "Ameer of Kashmir". The video had called on Kashmiri 'fighters' and Muslims, including Zakir Musa and his outfit Ansar Ghazwat ul Hind, to pledge allegiance to IS leader Abu Bakr al Baghdadi.

Asked to comment on IS and al-Qaida's outreach to Kashmiris, an intelligence official said: "It is a cause for worry as any sustained move in this direction could see sections of 'vulnerable' youth eventually getting influenced by their jihadi ideology. However, there is no need for panic. While Ansar Ghazwat ul Hind barely has half a dozen fighters in Tral, the IS-pledged Kashmiri group referred to in the Al-Qaraar video is suspected to be Tehreek ul Mujahideen (TuM), a Salafi group, that has a very limited presence in Budgam.

TuM, led by Abdullah Gazali of Budgam, was in the news last month for the killing of its divisional commander Mugees Ahmad Mir in an encounter at Zakura near Srinagar. The IS had claimed responsibility for the encounter in which a J&K police officer was martyred.


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