The Ministry of Home Affairs has banned the Al Qaeda in Indian Subcontinent (AQIS) and the Islamic State in Khorasan Province (ISKP) under the anti-terror law, the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act, 1967 (UAPA).
- In a notification, the Ministry said that the AQIS, an affiliate of the Al Qaeda and ISKP, the Afghanistan wing of the Islamic State are “terrorist organisations.”
- Al Qaeda and IS are already banned under the UAPA.
About these terrorist organisations:
The Al Qaeda in Indian Subcontinent (AQIS):- The AQIS is a terrorist organisation, which has committed acts of terrorism in the neighbouring countries.
- It has been promoting and encouraging terrorist acts on the Indian interests in the Indian sub-continent and has been attempting radicalisation and recruitment of youth from India.
- The AQIS has been pushing several provocative messages on social media platforms.
- On several occasions, the Al Qaraar media, affiliated to the Islamic State has posted messages inviting former Hizbul Mujahideen commander Zakir Musa and now the head of AQIS-affiliated Ansar Ghazwat-ul Hind group to join them.
- AQIS was created in August 2014 and is led by an Indian, Maulana Asim Umar, who was later identified as U.P. resident Sanaul Haq
The Islamic State in Khorasan Province (ISKP):
- The ISKP came into existence in 2015.
- The ISKP “promotes and encourages terrorism in the Indian sub-continent and has been committing terrorist acts to consolidate its position by recruiting youth for ‘global jihad’.
- It works to achieve the objective of establishing its own ‘caliphate’ by overthrowing democratically elected governments.
- It considers India and the Indian interests as its targets and is engaged in radicalising and recruiting Indian youth for terrorist activities.
- It mainly comprises of defectors from the Tehrik-i-Taliban (TTP).
