With the killing of Mugees Mir, Amaq news agency of Islamic state claimed the Zakura attack. However DGP police refuted such a claim and nullified any presence of ISIS in Kashmir. Earlier this year an internationally reputed daily The Guardian reported that Al Qaeda has appointed a prominent Kashmiri militant leader Zakir Rashid Bhat as the head of its first branch named as Ansar Ghazwat-ul-Hind. Immediately after the Al Qaeda announcement, UJC supremo Syed Salahuddin had said, there is no scope and no necessity for the presence of such jehadi organizations in Kashmir. He had clearly denounced such organizations and called their presence in Kashmir as creation of hurdles in the path of freedom movement. However, bodies of many local militants including that of Mugees was draped in ISIS flags and people raised pro-Daesh slogans
Though first of its kind, claims of world known jehadist organisations setting up their units in Kashmir are giving rise to many apprehensions, queries and ambiguities. It needs debates, discussions and answers from within the Kashmiri society.
With gun at the helm of affairs, there are ample chances that such things will come into play, keeping the post 2001 situation in mind. In early 1990s when there used to be a plethora of militant organizations in Kashmir, we witnessed conflict of interest and thus many rifts among several militant organizations.
Previously no international Jehadi organization had openly operated in Kashmir. With this newer claims and announcements no bigger changes should be expected as it will not be easy for any of international outfits to operate in Kashmir. Regions like Afghanstan, Iraq, Syria, Yemen, Libya etc where Al Qaeda has operated massively had these things In common. What such outfits can get in Kashmir is only a few dozen recruits. Also Pakistan, its army and ISI wouldnt support or allow such organizations to operate from its side as it would severely harm the Pakistans stand on Kashmir and its efforts to highlight Kashmir issue globally. And who else than Pakistan would be well aware of the repercussions. So there are least chances that Pakistan will allow or support any such move at this juncture of time.
In the new wave of protests some people have started raising slogans in favour of Daesh and hoisting ISIS flags openly with full zeal and zest. These acts though minute have the potential to create space and opportunity for these elements to operate in Kashmir. There is huge responsibility on the shoulders of common masses, especially at a time when they have taken the movement in their own hands and most leaders dont enjoy much support. People should ponder over it and stop this madness which otherwise could play the biggest spoiler in our history.
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