I/II. http://economictimes.indiatimes.com/news/politics-and-nation/al-qaedas-new-india-branch-not-a-threat-us/articleshow/41765790.cms?utm_source=contentofinterest&utm_medium=text&utm_campaign=cppst Al-Qaeda's new India branch not a threat: US By PTI | 5 Sep, 2014, 10.34AM IST
WASHINGTON: Al-Qaeda forming a branch for operating in India is not an indication of the terrorist outfit gaining new capabilities, the US today said, asserting that it is committed to dismantling the militant group. "We do not regard the announcement as an indication of new capabilities by al-Qaeda, which has long been active throughout the region," Caitlin Hayden, spokesperson of the National Security Council at the White House, said. "We have seen the reports of al-Qaeda's new branch on the Indian subcontinent. The US remains committed to dismantling al-Qaeda and ensuring that it never again poses a threat to the American people," she said in response to a question. The US, she said, has robust counter-terrorism partnerships in the region to combat al-Qaeda's destabilising influence, to deny it safe haven, to counter violent extremism, and to build resilience against terrorist groups. After the 2008 Mumbai terror attacks, cooperation between the US and India on counter-terrorism issues has increased significantly. Six Americans were among the 166 people killed in the attacks. Counter-terrorism is expected to be one of the key topics of discussion between the two countries when Prime Minister Narendra Modi travels to Washington later this month to meet President Barack Obama. "We have seriously degraded al-Qaeda in the region, and will continue our efforts against the group and affiliates that pose a threat to the American people," Hayden said. The creation of the group called "Qaedat al-Jihad in the Indian Subcontinent" was announced by As Sahab, al-Qaeda's official media outlet, in a lengthy video posted on social media sites including YouTube. Al-Qaeda is active in Afghanistan and Pakistan, but the group's leader Ayman al Zawahiri said 'Qaedat al-Jihad' would take the fight to India, Myanmar and Bangladesh. II. Qaida won't find India easy: Intelligence agenciesJayaraj Sivan <http://www.google.com/url?q=http%3A%2F%2Ftimesofindia.indiatimes.com%2Ftoireporter%2Fauthor-Jayaraj-Sivan.cms&sa=D&sntz=1&usg=AFQjCNFFg_aabJ0XZI45gy6wUORYg3_QMQ> ,TNN | Sep 6, 2014, 02.59 AM IST http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/India/Qaida-wont-find-India-easy-Intelligence-agencies/articleshow/41819288.cms <http://www.google.com/url?q=http%3A%2F%2Ftimesofindia.indiatimes.com%2FIndia%2FQaida-wont-find-India-easy-Intelligence-agencies%2Farticleshow%2F41819288.cms&sa=D&sntz=1&usg=AFQjCNH75f2FbxJ26WVlSEQgY2qyX9hkhA> CHENNAI: Ayman al-Zawahiri's threat to form al-Qaida in Indian Subcontinent (AQIS) has unnerved intelligence agencies in the country forcing them to look for possible links between some of the homegrown extremist outfits and al-Qaida. Coming from one of the most dreaded terror outfits in the world, nobody dare take the threat lightly, but al-Qaida may not find it easy to set up base in India, say intelligence agencies. A senior official with more than two decades of experience in the Intelligence Bureau (IB) said there could be stray elements with the potential to cause trouble but India did not give them room to flourish. A young man from Cuddalore district who was working in Singapore made for Syria and joined ISIS. Three others from Thane joined ISIS and one of them died fighting for the rebel group in Iraq. Yet, the official said, a foreign terror group cannot sink its roots in the country unless the social divide is wide enough. Islamic Forum for the Promotion of Moderate Thought says Indian Muslims are peace loving and do not subscribe to al-Qaida's worldview. Nevertheless, the forum's secretary general, A Faizur Rahman, feels mosques in the country should use Friday sermons to counter puritanical schools of thought in accordance with the Prophetic warning against linking extremism and religion. "Threat perception is already high in the country. Al-Qaida is currently not in a position to make it any higher," a senior police officer said. Many in the establishment feel Zawahiri's video clipping is only an attempt to raise the sagging morale of al-Qaida members who are losing visibility with the rise of ISIS. "In Afghanistan, there is a cultural divide between Arab-dominated al-Qaida, who have lost out to the inward-looking Pushtoon-based Taliban. In neighbouring Pakistan, Lashkhar-e-Taiba and the Pakistani Taliban have overshadowed al-Qaida. The same cultural divide would be the main stumbling block for Zawahiri in India too. There is no dearth of homegrown extremist groups like al-Umma and Indian Mujahideen, but they will not want to be treated like second-grade jihadists by al-Qaida," the officer said. Motives that drive homegrown extremists of Tamil Nadu are different from those that drive groups like al-Qaida and ISIS, a central intelligence official said. "Al-Umma has mostly targeted local Sangh Parivar leaders," he said. The feedback that fundamental elements who visit other Muslim-dominated countries bring with them is not encouraging for potential recruits. There is a perception even among extremist groups that they enjoy greater freedom in India, where they can even stage a protest against the administration, another official said. India's economic progress is another impediment for extremist groups, said former RAW chief P K Hormis Tharakan. In the late '80s, when the Indian GDP trailed Pakistan's, separatism and terrorism gained currency in Kashmir. The situation has now reversed and extremism is on the decline in Kashmir. "National security is not merely about thwarting terrorist attacks. It is also about economic well-being and improving standards of living of the poor," Tharakan said. Equity in distribution of wealth and opportunity reduces discontentment. When there is prosperity, there is less propensity for terror." But he admitted that the emergence of a young breed of educated and affluent terrorists was a cause for concern. -- Peace Is Doable -- You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups "Green Youth Movement" group. To unsubscribe from this group and stop receiving emails from it, send an email to [email protected]. To post to this group, send an email to [email protected]. Visit this group at http://groups.google.com/group/greenyouth. For more options, visit https://groups.google.com/d/optout.
