IS wooing J&K dissidents to make inroads into India

THE EMERGENCE OF THE GROUP HAS COINCIDED WITH THE INCREASING ADOPTION OF ISLAMIC STATE BANNERS AND FLAGS BY DISAFFECTED YOUNGSTERS OF J&K

the ground in Kashmir” and “present at the clashes against the Enemies of Islam” could prepare for attacks.

On Monday, the group put out instructions in Hindi on how attacks could be carried out with large trucks, such as the ones in Nice, France and the German capital Berlin last year, along with potential targets.

The group’s emergence has coincided with the increasing adoption of Islamic State banners and flags by disaffected youngsters of Kashmir during the unrest that followed the killing of Hizbul Mujahideen commander Burhan Wani a year ago.

Indian security officials insist the IS has no real presence in the Kashmir Valley and they also point to the fact that the group has not so far claimed responsibility for an attack anywhere in India. However, they acknowledge the group led by Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi has no dearth of sympathisers, including in Kashmir.

Amarnath Amarasingam, a senior research fellow at the London-based Institute for Strategic Dialogue who is one of the world’s leading experts in tracking the IS’ online activity, told HT the terror group “definitely has an interest in South Asia.

“Whether it happens is another matter. The interest in Kashmir is very old amongst jihadists, just like their interest in Palestine is old. For them, anywhere they see Muslims suffering is a potential theatre of jihad, a place to send help and fight back,” he said.

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