Al-Qaeda Chief Announces Start of Jihadi Operations in India

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http://www.bloomberg.com/news/2014-09-04/al-qaeda-head-al-zawahiri-announces-start-of-operations-in-india.html

Al-Qaeda Chief Announces Start of Jihadi Operations in India
By Kartikay Mehrotra 2014-09-04T08:51:47Z

Al-Qaeda will start a new wing dedicated to waging jihad in the Indian subcontinent and beyond, the terror group’s leader Ayman al-Zawahiri announced in a 55-minute video posted online.

Al-Zawahiri said the group would help expand al-Qaeda attacks in India as well as work to end what he called the suffering of Muslims throughout the region, including in Kashmir, Myanmar and Bangladesh. The video indicated the new group would be led by two Pakistani militants from Pakistani territory.

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The announcement risks adding to tensions between India and Pakistan as border skirmishes intensify between the two nuclear-armed neighbors, further dimming initial hopes that Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s May election victory would spur peace talks and enhance economic collaboration. The two countries have fought four wars since 1947, with most of the violence stemming from disputes over the Muslim-majority territory of Kashmir where the Modi government intends to end the special rights awarded to its minority population.

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1. Al-Qaeda declares new front to wage war on India, calls for jihad in the subcontinent

http://indianexpress.com/article/india/india-others/al-qaeda-leader-ayman-al-zawahiri-announces-formation-of-india-al-qaeda/

Al-Qaeda declares new front to wage war on India, calls for jihad in the subcontinent

Written by Praveen Swami | New Delhi | September 4, 2014 11:42 am

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Early on Thursday morning, Indian time, fugitive al-Qaeda commander Ayman al-Zawahari announced the formation of a new wing of the feared terrorist group dedicated to waging jihad in the Indian subcontinent.

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The new organisation, named the Jamaat Qaidat al-jihad fi’shibhi al-qarrat al-Hindiya, or Organisation of The Base of Jihad in the Indian Sub-Continent, also released online manifestos written by al-Zawahiri, spokesperson Usama Mahmoud, and organisational chief Asim Umar.

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2. BBC: India on alert after 'Indian al-Qaeda' video; Online reaction to Zawahiri's message

http://www.bbc.com/news/world-asia-29058915

India on alert after 'Indian al-Qaeda' video
4 September 2014 Last updated at 16:58 ET

India has issued a security alert in several states after an announcement by al-Qaeda of the formation of an Indian branch of the group.

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Online reaction to Zawahiri's message

On social media, Islamic State (IS) supporters mocked Ayman al-Zawahiri's announcement. The scorn felt by IS followers towards al-Qaeda is nothing new, but their derision surged after the declaration, indicating the rivalry between the two groups.

One pro-IS Twitter user taunted al-Qaeda for opening "outlets in India" like McDonald's while others felt Zawahiri was "sowing sedition" and trying to remain in charge of all jihadists as their "caliph".

Others jeered Zawahiri for being "America's man," saying the United States and Pakistan had "liquidated all AQ's commanders except him". Others likened him to being the "spearhead in the crusader effort against the caliphate," noting he avoided clashing with "Shia Iran" despite allegations of discrimination against Sunni Muslims there.

Twitter users backing al-Qaeda praised the declaration, highlighting the plight of the Rohingya Muslim minority in Burma. Those opposed to both groups tweeted that the announcement signalled further bloodshed and division among Muslims and a new Western-led war against them.

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[Fred Sanders]

3. More fear offering by a near impotent group. Terrorists try to spread terror, remember?