Terror under Pakistan's nose as Islamic State expands into region

[INDIAPOSITIVE]

The Islamic State (IS) militant group has just announced the appointment of its commander for Pakistan and Afghanistan, despite Islamabad's denial of an IS network in the country.

The Islamic State (IS) militant group has announced a new chapter in the already volatile countries of Afghanistan and Pakistan.

For the last few months, the Pakistani government has been denying that IS had established a network in their country. But now, it is official. IS has just announced the appointment of its commander for Pakistan and Afghanistan.

"We give glad tidings to the Islamic fighters on the inclusion of the Khurasan region (Afghanistan and Pakistan) into the Islamic State,” said IS spokesman Abu Muhammad Al-Adnani. “The conditions for the establishment of an Islamic state have been met and this region is hereby made part of the Islamic State. Hafiz Saeed Khan is hereby announced as in charge of the Khurasan region.

The statement calls for Al-Qaeda, the Taliban, and other militant factions to take oath under its so-called caliphate Al Baghdadi.

Pakistan, a front-line ally in the war against terror, is pivotal for regional stability. But for many years, the ruling elite had been denying the power of the Taliban to such an extent that it was only after an international outcry in 2009 when it was discovered that the Taliban were just 100 miles away from the capital Islamabad.

The state was prompted to take action and since then, such anti-terror military operations have, by necessity, continued.

Militancy experts say Pakistan comes across as a slow learner. "And now the same situation we are witnessing against the Daish (Islamic State) - the government is confused, the political leadership is confused and even the media is confused," said Saleem Safi, a militancy analyst.

However, some analysts say Pakistan is allowing some militant groups to expand into the region in a bid to uphold its strategic significance and maintain the flow of international funds. But they warn that the country should not repeat past mistakes of supporting certain militants for short-term gains, as such a high-stakes strategy could yet yield disastrous consequences for the region.


Terror under Pakistan's nose as Islamic State expands into region - Channel NewsAsia

 

[Badbadman]

A turf war might be expected between IS and TTP.
Or worse they might join hands. Bad for both India and Pakistan, that's off course if new Pakistani leader ( the other shariff ) thinks it is.

 

[paki_rambo]

which IS commander are they talking about,the one that has been arrested by Pakistan intelligence agencies!!

 

[Pomegranate]

which IS commander are they talking about,the one that has been arrested by Pakistan intelligence agencies!!

 

[SpArK]

ISIS is like a cancer and to prevent it from spreading you need chemo therapy .

 

[AbhimanyuShrivastav]

ISIS is like a cancer and to prevent it from spreading you need chemo therapy .

First Pakistan will have to decide whether ISIS is a good terrorist or a bad terrorist.

 

[Badbadman]

ISIS is better funded, and ISI got no sort of influence over them unlike other pet groups that exists.

 

[Musafir117]

First they accept ISIS presence in Pakistan is a deal here
Sanp Guzrne ke baad lakeer piten ge ham OH HO ye kese aur kiyun hua.

 

[WAJsal]

First Pakistan will have to decide whether ISIS is a good terrorist or a bad terrorist.

Look who is talking about good and bad terrorist!

 

[pak-marine]

Govt in a state of denial about Daesh?

Baqir Sajjad Syed Updated about 11 hours ago


Islamic State (IS) militants. — AFP/File
ISLAMABAD: The government apparently remains in a state of denial regarding a massive threat posed by the Middle Eastern terrorist group Daesh (Islamic State), which recently announced its set-up for Pakistan and Afghanistan.

“Islamic State (IS) is not a major threat. It is not a serious problem for Pakistan,” Adviser on Foreign Affairs and National Security Sartaj Aziz said on Saturday in reply to a question on the sidelines of a seminar on US President Barack Obama’s recent visit to India.

Mr Aziz’s assessment gave an insight into the government’s thinking about the challenge from the group and its planning for dealing with the threat.

Daesh had earlier in January announced its organisational structure for “Khorasan” (Pakistan and Afghanistan) led by a former leader of the banned Tehreek-i-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) from Orakzai, Hafez Saeed Khan. A former Afghan Taliban leader, Mullah Abdul Rauf Khadim, was named his deputy.

With the group’s leadership for the region going to a Pakistani and ex-TTP men getting a lion’s share in the 12 top positions, it is clear that the IS plans to focus on the country as part of its ‘expansion into Khorasan’ strategy.

Besides the sectarian angle, Daesh appears attractive for young religious militants because of the territory it controls and the financial resources it possesses. Weakening of the TTP because of desertions and military action has also provided a conducive environment for the IS to establish a base here.

The group first made its presence felt across the country through a wall-chalking campaign and leaflets distribution. Its flags were also noticed at a few places, including some sensitive installations near Rawalpindi.

This photograph taken on September 3, 2014 shows a man holding a pamphlet, allegedly distributed by the Islamic State (IS), in Pakistan. — AFP/File
This was followed by some arrests, which led to a decline in wall chalking and other outreach activities, but the group began concentrating on organisational matters and recruiting.

The Commander of the US-led Resolute Support Mission in Afghanistan, Gen John Campbell, had in an interview mentioned Daesh’s recruitment drive both in Afghanistan and Pakistan.

IS spokesman Abu Muhammad al Adnani As-Shami, while announcing the set-up in a recorded message released by the group’s media wing, called on fighters who had sworn allegiance to the group’s leader Abubakr Baghdadi to follow the orders of “the Khorasan governor and his deputy” and “prepare for the great tribulations they will face”.

Daesh may not still have challenged the security situation here, but the statement emphasising organisational discipline and preparedness hints towards its planning to step up activities.

The IS chief had received a number of allegiances from this region in the past.

This picture shows motorists driving past an empty police check post with graffiti which reads as “ISIS” along a street on the outskirts of Karachi. — AFP/File
Mr Aziz’s hope of the group not becoming a serious threat is based on the military operations in the tribal areas being successful.

“We have military operations in tribal areas. IS would not become a serious problem, if the situation remains stable,” he said.

Security analyst Zahid Hussain sees the naming of the group’s hierarchy here as a sign of its emergence.

Amir Rana, who heads the Pakistan Institute for Peace Studies (Pips), an Islamabad-based think tank specialising in security issues, said the move to accept allegiance of militants from here was a “strategic decision” by Daesh after which all factions would have to join hands and pool resources.

The formation of a formal structure, he said, needed to be taken as a serious threat.

Both Mr Hussain and Mr Rana said the terrorist group Jundullah’s acceptance of responsibility of the bomb attack in an Imambargah at Shikarpur underscored the seriousness of the threat.

Jundullah was one of the first groups in the country to have pledged allegiance to the IS chief.

Besides the fears of the sectarian front heating up once Daesh launches its activities here, analysts are worried that a turf war between it, Taliban and Al Qaeda would also begin.

Published in Dawn, February 1st, 2015

 

[Zibago]

Jamatudawa,SSP,ISIS saroan ki franchise khol le hay

 

[paki_rambo]

This photograph taken on September 3, 2014 shows a man holding a pamphlet, allegedly distributed by the Islamic State (IS), in Pakistan. — AFP/File

and they are distributing pamphlets written in arabic!! how cute!!!

 

[OTTOMAN]

ISIS is like a cancer and to prevent it from spreading you need chemo therapy .

Than we should start from Iraq.

 

[pak-marine]

and they are distributing pamphlets written in arabic!! how cute!!!

dont you know Bakistanis are arabs

 

[anilindia]

Jandullah has already join hand with Isis. And they have recently claim shai mosque bombing. It seems they are already in the fight.