(Image source from: Is Kashmir safe from the Al Qaeda?})

The Kashmir dispute between India and Pakistan is as old as the country's independence from British rule. The terrorist activities in Jammu and Kashmir have always pointed to involvement of Pakistan based terror groups, with support from their government. Meaning, there has been no visible hand of Al-Qaeda, a global militant Islamist organization, in the Kashmir issue.

However, Kashmir may not be free from Al-Qaeda for long, going by some reports. Alarm bells have rung in New Delhi after a recent release of a video by Maulana Asim Umar, a senior Al Qaeda leader of Pakistan cell. This video enjoined Kashmiris to follow their Iraqi and Syrian "brothers" and launch a jihad against India.

The terror video was released hours after Home Minister Rajnath Singh got intelligence briefing about the possibilities of massive infiltration into India after American troops leave Afghanistan.

The video carried images of the 2010 demonstrations in Jammu and Kashmir. It had the silhouette of an armed man juxtaposed in the background of the Dal Lake (purportly). The message said that Muslims from all over the world have taken up arms and are actively supporting jihad. Even Muslims who were against armed jihad are now with them after realising that democratic means of peaceful protests do not work.

An Intelligence Bureau (IB) official says that the Al Qaeda’s message cannot be taken lightly. According to the IB official, the Inter Services Intelligence (Pakistani espionage agency) will not allow the Al Qaeda or the Taliban to interfere in the Kashmir dispute. It has assigned some dedicated outfits for Kashmir; and the Al Qaeda or the Taliban have not been included.

However, things might go out of control. And if the recent developments are any indication it could be dangerous for India. For example, the Tehrik-i-Taliban is no longer under the ISI. But even today the terrorist outfit can strike at will and has been a problem, added the IB official.

The Al Qaeda may have stayed away from the Kashmir dispute, but it was always on their agenda.

Slain Al Qaeda chief Osama bin Laden had always been supportive to the various groups involved in the Kashmir dispute, although he never directly sent his troops into Kashmir. The Harkat-ul-Ansar, which is involved in the Kashmir battle, is known to have received ideological and financial support from the Al Qaeda.

After Osama's death, his successor Ayman Al Zawahari often spoke about launching the Kashmir battle as the ISI-led groups had been miserably unsuccessful.

Last year, the WikiLeaks leaked some sensitive information from the US diplomatic cable that clearly suggest that Osama and Al Qaeda were willing to pump in $20 million supporting the Kashmir battle.

After this a series of intelligence alerts were issued suggesting that Al Qaeda commander Ilyas Kashmiri had plans for major terror strikes in India. They were also training cadres for the war in Kashmir, according to the allerts.

Kashmiri is reportedly interested in India and has often suggested to the Al Qaeda leadership about launching a jihad in India and the best way is to begin from Kashmir.

(AW: Pratima Tigga with inputs from rediff.com)