AL QAEDA LINK TO JAMMU AND KASHMIR WORRIES INDIA
Srinagar: Indian Intelligence officials said Thursday that they were treating seriously claims that AL QAEDA had established a wing in disputed Kashmir, as details of a statement from the militant network were circulated congratulating the conspirators behind the Mumbai bomb attacks that killed at least 200 commuters earlier this week.
An individual claiming to represent AL-QAEDA Jammu and Kshmir told local news agency Thursday that AL QAEDA had set up a cell in Jammu and Kashmir and called on Muslims to the fight.
He said the bombings were “ reaction to what is happening to the minorities, especilly Muslims in India.”
Rajesh Kumar, a spokesman of the Home Ministry of India , said by a telephone. Our security agencies are looking into this claim to establish how credible it is. We take this kind of thing very seriously because it is a matter of concern to the nation t large. We are doing what it takes to verify this.”
A senior intelligence officials here said officers were trying here said officers were trying to trace the call, which was made over a local landline to local news agency.
“Our immediate effort is to locate the caller and ascertain the authenticity of the claim,’’ the official said on condition of the claim,” the official said on condition of anonymity.
The caller, who identified himself as Abu Al Hadeed, was reported to have declared: Whosoever has carried out the attacks in Mumbai, we expree our gratitude and happiness.
There was no way of verifying his claims, but analysts said India had begun to show up on the list of AL QAEDA’s enemy nations in broadcasts made earlier this year, shortly after President Bush made a high profile vist to New Delhi. (Writer-South Asia)
