Al-Qaida in Kashmir?

In a significant development two days after the Mumbai train blasts and grenade attacks on tourists in Jammu and Kashmir, al-Qaida has reportedly surfaced in the embattled state.

A caller identifying himself as a spokesman for al-Qaida's Jammu and Kashmir unit, contacted a local news agency to express "gratitude" and "happiness" over the Mumbai blasts.

Current News Service (CNS), a local vernacular news gathering agency, reported on Thursday that a caller identifying himself as Abu al Hadid claimed establishing of al-Qaida's Jammu and Kashmir unit.

Hadid, according to CNS, said that he was a spokesman for the unit which would be known as al-Qaida Jammu and Kashmir.

Hadid identified the Kashmir chief of al-Qaida as Abu Abdul Rehman al Ansari. "Whosoever has carried the Bombay bombings, our Amir (chief) has expressed gratitude and happiness over it," he said.

He told CNS that the Mumbai bombings were a "reaction to what is happening to minorities especially Muslims in India" and appealed Indian Muslims to "chose Jehad as a way for freedom and Islam".

While the authenticity of the statement is yet to be verified, government officials assert that it could not be "brushed aside". "The call has been made from a local phone and we have the number as well. We are verifying it," top official sources told Business Standard.

Abu Hadid told the news agency that al-Qaida Jammu and Kashmir would soon announce its aims and objectives and their statements would be henceforth in Arabic and English. "This statement has been given in Urdu (language) so that it is properly understood."

Official sources pointed out that they were not in a position to authenticate the statement either way. "However, we can't brush it aside and government is taking it very seriously," the sources asserted.

Despite the presence of LeT, JeM and Al Badr, considered as foreign militant groups, Kashmir insurgency has been dominated by indigenous Hizbul Mujahideen (HM).

Intelligence officials have reported co-ordination between the existing militant groups on the ground and have ascribed renewed surge in violence to their "synchronised activities" here. But analysts see the possible independent presence of al-Qaida as a "major challenge" to the Hizb, dominated by Kashmiris.