AlQaeda names Zakir Musa as its India unit chief
SRINAGAR: Former Hizbul Mujahideen commander
Zakir Musa has been named by an al-Qaeda-linked propaganda channel as the head of a newly created cell in Kashmir, marking the international terror group’s first attempt at fishing in the troubled waters of the state, which has been in turmoil for more than a year.
Musa, 22, widely seen as a radical, is the first militant commander who has claimed “the separatist movement in Kashmir is for establishment of an Islamic state and not a political struggle’’.
He has also claimed to be fighting for establishing Sharia or Islamic law in Kashmir.
Musa is part of a new breed of militant commanders who have made extensive use of social media, releasing videos and tapping into widespread disillusionment among young Kashmiris.
SRINAGAR: Former Hizbul Mujahideen commander Zakir Musa has been named by an al-Qaedalinked propaganda channel as the head of a newly created cell in Kashmir, marking the international terror group’s first attempt at fishing in the troubled waters of the state, which has been in turmoil for more than a year.
Musa, 22, widely seen as a radical, is the first militant commander who has claimed “the separatist movement in Kashmir is for establishment of an Islamic state and not a political struggle’’.
He has also claimed to be fighting for establishing Sharia or Islamic law in Kashmir.
Musa is part of a new breed of militant commanders who have made extensive use of social media, releasing videos and tapping into widespread disillusionment among young Kashmiris.
Their rise has coincided with moves by al-Qaeda and Islamic State to establish a foothold in India, including Kashmir.
The development was first reported by The Guardian, which cited Global Islamic Media Front, an al-Qaeda-linked information network, as saying that Musa had been made head of the new cell named Ansar Ghazwat-Ul-Hind (Battle for India). The post said the “step was taken after Burhan Wani’s death’’.
Confirming the development, director general of police SP Vaid said, “Something has come on social media, we are looking into the matter.”
Vaid said: “This is a first but for us it doesn’t change anything – for us a terrorist is a terrorist, no matter what organisation he belongs to.”
Kashmir Police had so far denied the presence of operatives of any international terror groups such as al-Qaeda or Islamic State in the state. IS flags seen during protests in some parts of the Kashmir Valley were perceived by security officials as “irritants more than a real threat’’.
Musa, whose real name is Zakir Rashid Bhat, became chief of the Hizb after Burhan Wani was killed by security forces in July last year, triggering violent protests that left at least 100 dead.
He was an engineering student in a Chandigarh college before joining militancy.
The Global Islamic Media Front’s post on social media said the Ansar Ghawzat-Ul-Hind was formed after Burhan Wani’s killing. Musa was Wani’s close aide and is seen as the most radical of the militants active in Kashmir. He belongs to an educated family – his father is an engineer and his brother an orthopaedic surgeon at a Srinagar hospital.