by Alex Marinides
Flags bearing the symbol of Jihadist group the Islamic State (IS) have been spotted in Kashmir, reports state.
The incident occurred on the Muslim holy day of Eid. Masked men were seen carrying around IS flags after celebrations that marked the occasion.
Indian Lieutenant General Subrata Saha stated that the event “deserves the highest attention of the security agencies” in order to prevent youth in the region being lured into terrorism.
The rise of the Islamic State and other militant groups has been a cause for concern for India, with fears that Jihadist fighters will trickle across the border between Pakistan and India.
This is the second such incident in over a week, when a protester was seen waving the terror group’s flag after Eid prayers.
The chief minister of Kashmir, Omar Abdullah, stated to the press that “You have to understand that no ISIS group has been identified so far in the valley. The flag… was waved by some idiots, which does not mean that ISIS has any presence in Kashmir.”
The concern felt by many, including Saha, is that while there may not be a current IS presence in Kashmir, it is possible that the youth in the embattled region, long a point of contention between India and Pakistan, will be attracted to militancy.
by Alex Marinides
