In an attempt to launch terror attacks in India, particularly Kashmir, terror outfit Al-Qaeda in the subcontinent has called on its operatives to target Indian security personnel and leaders of Hindu ‘separatist’ organisations.
The document has released an elaborate 20-page ‘Code of Conduct’ document detailing its objectives, targets, and do’s and don’ts for its members.
It has specified that the Indian security personnel need not be targeted in the battle field alone, adding that they can also be targeted when they are on vacations.
“All personnel of the military are our targets, whether they be in the war zone or in barracks at their bases. Even the personnel on vacation are not exempted due to their battle against implementation of sharia,” read the document.
This is an exact reproduction of the text: “Officers are a greater priority than soldiers. The greater is the seniority, greater is our priority to kill him. Those officers of the military who have the blood of our Kashmiri brothers on their hands are our targets,” the terror outfit said in another statement.
Making several references to Kashmir, the document refers to a resident of UP’s Sambhal, Maulana Asim Umar, as the ‘emir’ or chief of the so-called Al-Qaeda in the Indian subcontinent (AQIS).
Times of India, in its report, cited Indian intelligence sources saying that they were keeping a close tab on the on the development as it comes soon after former Hizbul commander Zakir Musa floated a new outfit and openly acknowledged support from Al-Qaeda.
Sources said the most worrying part was that the outfit had invited different groups fighting in the subcontinent to pledge their allegiance to what they refer to as the "Islamic emirate of Afghanistan", and stand up against intelligence agencies and the groups they sponsor.
An official dealing in counter-terror operations said that Al-Qaeda is also trying to establish that its objectives and modus operandi are completely different from that of the so-called Islamic State, its arch rival.
