The Intelligence Bureau has issued a security alert to several states after al Qaeda leader Ayman al Zawahri announced the formation of an Indian branch of his militant group, a report said on Thursday.<br /><br />The Ministry of Home Affairs has, meanwhile, asked the IB to verify veracity of a video which features Zawahri announcing the formation of the branch which he said would spread Islamic rule and "raise the flag of jihad" across the subcontinent. <br /><br />Home Minister Rajnath Singh has called a meeting after the al Qaeda threat.<br /><br />Related Stories<br /><br /> India on al Qaeda's radar: Zawahri announces new wing to fight for Muslims in Kashmir, Gujarat<br /><br />In a 55-minute video posted online on Wednesday, Zawahri also renewed a longstanding vow of loyalty to Afghan Taliban leader Mullah Omar, in an apparent snub to the Islamic State armed group challenging al Qaeda for leadership of transnational Islamist militancy.<br /><br />Zawahri described the formation of "Al Qaeda in the Indian Subcontinent" as a glad tidings for Muslims "in Burma, Bangladesh, Assam, Gujurat, Ahmedabad, and Kashmir" and said the new wing would rescue Muslims there from injustice and oppression.<br /><br />Counter-terrorism experts say al Qaeda`s ageing leaders are struggling to compete for recruits with Islamic State, which has galvanised young followers around the world by carving out tracts of territory across the Iraq-Syria border.<br /><br /><br /><br /><br />For More information on this news visit: http://www.itvnewsindia.com/<br />For More information on this news, visit: http://www.indianews.ind.in/<br />Connect with us on Social platform at: http://www.facebook.com/IndiaNewsTV<br />Subscribe to our You Tube channel: https://www.youtube.com/user/itvnewsindia<br />Connect with us on Social platform at: https://www.facebook.com/pages/India-News/371196196360607
