Al Qaeda fighters from India and Bangladesh ready to carry out attacks: Intelligence

An Indian intelligence report has alerted the security establishment that Al Qaeda fighters from India and Bangladesh are getting ready to carry out coordinated attacks along with the Haqqani network in the Af-Pak region. 

As per report, around 130 Al Qaeda fighters along with Haqqani network, an offshoot of the Taliban that enjoys support from the Pakistan’s military, is planning to attack the Af-Pak region.

“Approximately 130 Al-Qaeda fighters belonging to India and Bangladesh have graduated after training from Al-Qaeda’s military centre located at Miranshah in North Waziristan, Pakistan on October 30. The graduates are likely to be shifted to Khost, Paktia, Pakitka, Kunar, Logar, Nuristan and Kabul provinces to carry out coordinated attacks along with Haqqani Network fighters,” the report said.

A report that was published by the United Nations last year had stated that there are 150-200 members in Al Qaeda in the Indian Subcontinent or AQIS from India, Pakistan, Bangladesh and Myanmar.

The 26th Report of the Analytical Support and Sanctions Monitoring Team said in the report that there are an estimated 400-600 Al Qaeda fighters in Afghanistan.

The UN report identified the following areas in Afganistan like Nirmuz, Helmand and Kandahar in Afghanistan — where the AQIS was working under Taliban.

Indian intelligence agencies have been vigilant and have been keeping a close eye on of AQIS in India and closing down on local modules and recruits that have been active in the last few years within the country.