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Al Qaeda, almost dead since Osama bin Laden’s shoot-out in 2011, has now turned to Indian Kashmir issue, issuing a threat not only to the Indian army and police but also adding Hindu organisations’ leaders.
In a document called “Code of conduct for Mujahideen in the subcontinent”, Al Qaeda has set its target and issued some do’s and don’ts for its members and affiliates, said a report in the Times of India.
“All personnel of the military are our targets, whether they be in the war zone or in barracks at their bases. Even the personnel on vacation are not exempted due to their battle against implementation of Sharia,” the outfit was quoted as saying in the report.
It said: “Those officers of the military who have the blood of our Kashmiri brothers on their hands are our targets.” Besides making Kashmir its major focus, the document also referred to Maulana Asim Umar, UP, as the ’emir’ (chief) of the so-called al Qaeda in the Indian Subcontinent (AQIS). It also asked terrorist wings in India to extend their allegiance to what they called the “Islamic emirate of Afghanistan,” said the report.
The TOI report said the Indian intelligence agencies are aware of the threat and thee is close watch on its movements in the country especially after former Hizbul commander Zakir Musa formed a new wing with open support from Al Qaeda.
Al Qaeda, founded by Ayman al Zawahiri and led by Osama bin Laden, has Pakistan’s ISI support and has several secret supporters in the country, said reports. The new warning, however, made it clear that the Mujahideen will not attack ordinary Hindus, Muslims or Buddhists, nor will it strike places of worship unlike Islamic State, another terrorist organisation that has been active in Syria and other Arab countries.
The document accessed by TOI reportedly claimed that hostages will be traded for release of arrested members or for extortion or killed. Moreover, the document has made Pakistan and Bangladesh also part of the target region besides India.
