Guwahati, Octoboer 8, 2014: The Al Qaeda video, which caused ripples in the entire country, proved to be a forged one. It is believed that the video was circulated by Pakistani Inter Services Intelligence (ISI) to divert the attention of the government and security agencies.
However, it is a fact that Al Qaeda has been trying to expand its bases to the Indian subcontinent.
A video of Al Qaeda chief Ayman Al Zawahiri, which was circulated last month, sent shock waves in the entire country as in that video, the chief of the terrorist group threatened to set up bases in Gujarat, Assam, Myanmar and Bangladesh.
Highly placed sources in the Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) told The Assam Tribune that all the security and intelligence agencies of the country, including internal and external, were pressed into service immediately after the video was released as the government could not afford to take such a threat lightly. Different tests of the video were carried out and first it was found that the voice in the video was not that of the Al Qaeda chief. Later, it was confirmed that the video was not released by Al Qaeda.
Sources revealed that according to inputs available so far, the forged video was prepared and circulated by the ISI by using an old video of the Al Qaeda chief. However, the government has not lowered its guards as there were inputs about the possibility of the Al Qaeda trying to expand towards the Indian subcontinent after the growth of the ISIS in the Middle East.
On the possible reasons for the ISI to make such a threat in the name of Al Qaeda, MHA sources said that it might be to create confusion in the minds of the security agencies of India. “But there might be a bigger game plan. By circulating the video, the ISI may be trying to create an image that the Al Qaeda is out to create trouble, so that when the militant groups backed by the ISI indulge in violence, the blame can be shifted and the ISI can always deny its involvement,” sources added. Sources also pointed out that by mentioning the name of Assam in the video, the ISI proved that the State is back on the radar of the organization.
MHA sources pointed out that for years, the ISI was involved in creating trouble in Assam and even militants from the State were trained by the Pakistani agency. But the boys from Assam were taken to Pakistan through Bangladesh and that stopped after the Awami League government assumed office in the neighbouring country. Now with the video, it is proved that Assam is back on the radar of the Pakistani agency, sources added.
Meanwhile, sources also pointed out that the Laskar-e-Toiba is trying to establish bases in Bangladesh, while, other outfits like Jamat E Islami Bangladesh (JUMB) and the HUJI are trying to regain strength. All these groups are in touch with Myanmar based militant group Rohangiya Solidarity Organization, which is fighting for the protection of the Rohangiya Muslims in that country. These developments may pose security threat to Assam and other parts of the North East in days to come, sources added.
Source: Assam Tribune
Post a Comment