Jammu and Kashmir: In a first time in the history of Islamic terrorism in India, the dreaded Islamic State (IS) has claimed that it has established a province in Jammu and Kashmir, Reuters reported. The announcement comes after a shootout between the police and a militant in Kashmir. The militant was killed in a clean operation by the security forces.
The announcement, which was made by IS affiliated news agency, Amaq News Agency, says that the province is called ‘Wilayah of Hind’. The IS statement also says that they have inflicted casualties on Indian army soldiers in the town of Amshipora in Shopian, Jammu and Kashmir.
Islamic State, which is on the run from Iraq and Syria, had carved out a large geographical area in those countries at the height of its power and dubbed it as the Caliphate. The IS leadership might be looking out for a new region of operation and they have zeroed in on Jammu and Kashmir, which is going to ring alarm bells in the security establishment.
When IS had established the Caliphate it was a rallying call for extremists from across the world to travel to the Jihadist headquarters in Iraq and Syria. India needs to step up its security measures to prevent a repeat of it in Jammu and Kashmir.
The militant killed in the encounter was Ishfaq Ahmad Sofi, who had worked with many militant organizations in the valley and was also involved in attacks on the security forces. He recently switched his allegiance to the Islamic State.
The entry of the Islamic State in Jammu and Kashmir could change the entire jihadi landscape of the valley. From demanding the freedom of Kashmir from India, the IS will transform the fight into establishing the Caliphate in the whole of South Asia.
It seems that the Islamic State is working hard to enter South Asia after its fall in the Arab region. Their recent Easter day bombings in Sri Lanka testifies their effort to get a hold in the region.
