Srinagar: The Islamic State terror group has claimed to have established a new “province” in India, the first-of-its-kind announcement that came after clashes between militants and security forces in Kashmir on May 10.
The Arabic name of the new branch is “Wilayah of Hind” (India Province), the dreaded terror outfit, said through its Amaq News Agency.
A senior Jammu and Kashmir police officer has rejected the claim.
Rita Katz, director of the SITE Intel Group that tracks Islamic extremists said, “ISIS declares its new ‘Hind Province’ while claiming clashes with Indian forces in Amshipora”.
“Of course, the establishment of a ‘province’ in a region where it has nothing resembling actual governance is absurd, but it should not be written off,” she said.
ISIS did not elaborate on the branch’s geographical remit as it mentioned the name of its new branch in a low-key announcement.
The announcement of the new branch is seen as part of ISIS’ strategy to give the impression of strengthening its global affiliations following the territorial losses in the Middle East.
The brief ISIS statement of May 10 via the messaging app Telegram said that the Islamic State militants using machine guns clashed with the Indian security forces in the village of Amshipora in Kashmir’s Shopian district, killing or injuring a number of them. (pti)
