The group pledged to raise the Islamic State’s (IS) flag in Afghanistan and Pakistan.
Using the poetic language often favoured by jihadist groups, it said in a statement: “From today, Sheikh Abu Bakr al Baghdadi shall consider TeK and Jihad mujahideen fighters of Pakistan as one of the arrows among his arrows which he has kept for his bow.
“We are praying from the almighty Allah to give us chance in our lives to see the expansion of Islamic State boundaries toward the SubContinent and Khurasan region in order to hoist the flag of Islamic State here.”
It is thought to be the first group beyond the Middle East to have offered support.
Tehreek-e-Khilafat and Jihad is considered part of the Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP), an umbrella movement linked to al Qaeda containing dozens of terrorist groups, racketeers and sectarian outfits.
Saifullah Mehsud, of the Fata Research Centre which monitors activity in Pakistan’s tribal areas, said he expected more militant groups to follow suit.
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so now anyone saying anything on web gets instant fame
Shame on all Indians abusing Pakistan and Muslims on this website. You are the enemies of humanity. Curses on all enemies of innocent Muslims.
Apart from this known local militant terrorist group, I worry that new radicals from mainstream Pak population don't pop up and start carrying out terrorist acts on the behest of this new extremist 'caliph'.
I'm sure some young Pakistanis would at least admire their military success and rise in capturing real estate and trying to create that fantasy of new Islamic caliphate and Islamic power romanticism, doing away with nationalist borders, aligned sectarian and religo-political ideological beliefs etc.
When many Pakistani origin Western citizens have flocked there, including one from Calgary, Canada who partook in a suicide bombing killing 50 people in Iraq at the end of last year, and many from the usual UK jihadists, such recruitment shouldn't be surprising.
@John B: Unfortunately its not restricted to those 3 nations. Groups, jihadist cells and radical individuals in other parts of the East and the West will follow suit.
Why are we not surprised? One will find a 101 plus pop-up terrorist or freedom outfits in Pakistan all operating in the name of Islam. First it was Nizam e Mustafa, then came Nizam e Shariat, and nowadays we have Islamic State and Caliphate. Don't they ever tire of fighting, killing, destroying in the name of Islam. The Islamic State will erupt through the intellect of the universities and parliament combined with a fighting force albeit in Turkey Erdogan is having problems but remains even after ten years. However, it may be, at least the Picot-Sykes Agreement of 1916 just got thrown out the door. Salams.
"The group pledged to raise the Islamic State’s (IS) flag in Afghanistan and Pakistan."
Thank you Jinnah for giving us a separate nation........the India.
"The group pledged to raise the Islamic State’s (IS) flag in Afghanistan and Pakistan."
Don't know about Afghanistan but if it was to get itself labelled a "Banned Outfit" in Pakistan, it could legally operate freely after that... it would be able to raise money, fly its flag, hold rallies and protests... and get police protection for its leaders... its all part of the law called "establishing the Writ of the state...."
This group is based in Islamabad of all places? Crush them while you can, even if these are just wannabes who are seeking infamy (which is quite likely). The real 'existential threat' to Pakistan isn't the one in North Waziristan (that area is a lost case anyway), but the one in urban cities like this one.
Should it surprise anyone?
These groups will not miss this opportunity in Iraq and more guys from Somalia, Nigeria, and in PAK will follow suit.