Islamic State wing in Af-Pak region could be a threat: R&AW

The agency said that IS military leader for the region Asmatullah Muawiya has threatened India in recent times.

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A Pakistan daily reported in 2013 that Muawiya had said India will become a major target of terrorist attacks once again, especially after the allied forces withdraw from Afghanistan.

The Research and Analysis Wing (R&AW) has said in a report to the government that an Islamic State (IS) wing, active in Afghanistan-Pakistan region, could pose a threat to India as prominent leaders of the wing have “possible linkages with the Pakistan establishment”.

In its report to the PMO, the agency has said Asmatullah Muawiya, who is said to have been appointed military leader of the group in Af-Pak region, is a Punjabi Taliban leader formerly linked to Tehrik-e-Taliban and al-Qaeda and added that he “had made peace with Pakistan Army last year and has threatened India in recent times”.

A Pakistan daily reported in 2013 that Muawiya had said India will become a major target of terrorist attacks once again, especially after the allied forces withdraw from Afghanistan.

“Muawiya’s statement has been released on an al-Qaeda and TTP-linked jehadi website — Jamia Hafsa Urdu Forum — in which he has also praised two terrorists — Ajmal Kasab of the Lashkar-e-Toiba and Afzal Guru of the Jaish-e-Mohammad who were sent to gallows in recent months by the Indian government for their roles in the November 2008 Mumbai terrorist attack and the December 12, 2001 fidayeen attack on the Indian Parliament in Delhi,” the newspaper report read.

The R&AW report expresses concern about the activities of an Af-Pak based group, which had been accorded status of Wilayat (foreign wing) by IS in Khurasan and was being referred to as the Wilayat Khurasan group.

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