India fears joint attacks by al Qaeda, ISIS

Zee Media Bureau, Mansear :The Director General of National Security Guards (NSG) Jayant Choudhury, Thursday, warned of a joint plan by al Qaeda and ISIS to target Indian cities.Speaking to reporters after NSG’s 30th raising day celebrations, Choudhury said, “Now that they (al Qaeda) have declared an intention to attack India, they might combine with outfits like Lashkar-e-Toiba, ISIS and Indian Mujahideen.””If they do have combined operations, we have to prepare for multi-city, multiple terror attacks,” he said, adding that tourist hubs like Goa, Bangalore and Amritsar are on the terror radar.Choudhury said, “Terrorism has become more grim, what happened in Mumbai on 26/11 was a curtain raiser.”Stressing that the NSG is fully prepared, he said, “NSG will respond to whatever required, whenever required.”The NSG DG’s warning on the possibility of a terror attack in India comes days after intelligence agencies warned of a plan by the al Qaeda to target India during the festive season.As per intelligence agencies, Qaeda has joined forces with banned organisation SIMI to execute its nefarious plan in India.  With Indian Mujahideen left with little muscle, al Qaeda looked for a new partner and found it in the shape of SIMI, which has a pan-India network. Investigators are said to have found evidence of the new nexus while probing the recent Burdwan and Bijnor bombings.Al Qaeda chief Ayman al-Zawahri had announced on September 4 the forming of the group’s wing in the country, by promising in a video posted online the need to spread Islamic rule and “raise the flag of jihad” across the “Indian subcontinent”.Also, the emergence of Islamic State flags in Kashmir has left the security establishment worried.