Amid the raging coronavirus health crisis comes another disturbing piece of news, this one relating to terrorism.
A UN report has warned India that there are “significant number” of ISIS terrorists in Kerala and Karnataka. Also, the Al-Qaida in the Indian Subcontinent terror group — which reportedly has 150 to 200 militants from India, Pakistan, Bangladesh and Myanmar — is planning attacks in the region, The Economic Times has reported.
According to the 26th report of Analytical Support and Sanctions Monitoring Team concerning ISIS, Al-Qaida and associated individuals and entities, the Al-Qaida in the Indian Subcontinent (AQIS) operates under Taliban umbrella from Afghanistan.
“The group reportedly has between 150 and 200 members from Bangladesh, India, Myanmar and Pakistan. The current leader of AQIS is Osama Mahmood, who succeeded the late Asim Umar… AQIS is reportedly planning retaliation operations in the region to avenge the death of its former leader,” it says.
“One member state reported that the ISIL Indian affiliate (Hind Wilayah), which was announced on May 10, 2019, has between 180 and 200 members,” the report states, adding that there are “significant numbers of ISIL operatives in Kerala and Karnataka states.”
In May 2019, the Islamic State (also known as ISIS, ISIL or Daesh) terror group had claimed it had established a new ‘province’ in India, giving it the Arabic name of ‘Wilayah of Hind’ (India Province).
