‘We Shouldn’t Take Such Threats Seriously’: MEA on Zawahiri Video

The Al Qaeda chief told Kashmir-based jihadist groups to “inflict unrelenting blows” on the Indian state.

Al-Qaeda Chief Ayman al-Zawahiri

(Photo Courtesy: Twitter/@Watchrone)

Dismissing threats made by Al Qaeda chief Ayman al-Zawahiri in a recently released video, India, on Thursday, 11 July, said, “We are accustomed to receiving such threats” and that “we should not take such warnings seriously.”

“Aisi dhamkiyaan jo hai na hum sunte rehte hain, mujhe nahi lagta inko seriously lena chahiye,” (Translation: We are accustomed to receiving such threats and I don’t think we should take any such warnings seriously) MEA Spokesperson Raveesh Kumar told reporters during a press briefing in New Delhi.

Kumar further said that, “Our security forces are well equipped and capable of maintaining our territorial integrity and sovereignty.”

In a video released by Al Qaeda's media wing, the terror group’s Chief Zawahiri told Kashmir-based jihadist groups to “inflict unrelenting blows” on the Indian state.

”(I am) of the view that the Mujahideen in Kashmir – at this stage at least – should single-mindedly focus on inflicting unrelenting blows on the Indian Army and government, so as to bleed the Indian economy and make India suffer sustained losses in manpower and equipment.”

al-Zawahiri, in his video message

Although Zawahiri did not explicitly mention the deceased terrorist Zakir Musa, the former Hizbul Mujahideen commander's picture flashed on screen while Zawahiri spoke. Even Zawahiri's message in the video echoed a speech given by Musa's successor a few days ago, reported Long War Journal.

Al-Zawahiri Calls Pakistan “Toadies of America”

In the message which is titled “Don't Forget Kashmir”, Al-Zawahiri castigated Pakistan saying it cannot be trusted to liberate Kashmir. He called the Pakistan government and the Army “toadies of America” and compared Pakistan’s policy on Kashmir to that of the Taliban and migrant terrorists.

He said, as per Long War Journal, “All the Pakistani Army and government are interested in is exploiting the mujahideen for specific political objectives, only to dump or persecute them later,” Zawahiri said. He alleged that Pakistan's “conflict with India is essentially a secular rivalry over borders managed by the American intelligence.”

‘Fight in Kashmir Not a Separate Conflict’

In his speech, Zawahiri asserted that the fight in Kashmir is not a ‘separate conflict’ but instead is part of the worldwide Muslim community's ‘jihad against a vast array of forces.’ He adds that the Kashmiri jihadists “need to establish stronger channels of communication with their Muslim brethren all over the Muslim world.”

Concerned about a “distorted image of the Mujahideens”, Zawahiri says in the video that “mosques, markets, and gathering places of Muslims” should not “become targets of explosions.”