TTP-Jamaat Ahrar group threatens to attack India following Wagah border blast

Ehsanullah Ehsan, spokesperson of the TTP-JA, says he had warned Modi that attacks in India are in the pipeline

Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan Jamaat Ahrar (TTP-JA) - group behind this week's devastating suicide bombing on the Wagah Border - said on Wednesday the attack was as much aimed at India as Pakistan, suggesting that Indian targets might be next.

At least 61 people were killed during a popular flag-lowering ceremony on November 2 when a bomber tried to get as close as possible to the border in a possible attempt to cause casualties on the Indian side as well.

Ehsanullah Ehsan, a prominent militant and spokesperson for the group TTP-JA, said he had warned Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi that attacks in India were in the pipeline.

"I have already conveyed it to Modi ... that if our suicide bombers can carry out attacks on this side of the border, they can easily do it on other side of the border in India," he told Reuters by telephone from an undisclosed location.

"I told him that his hands are red with the blood of Kashmiri mujahideen (fighters) and innocent people of Gujarat for which he would have to pay the price."

He earlier tweeted in English: "You (Modi) are the killer of hundreds of Muslims. We wl (will) take the revenge of innocent people of Kashmir and Gugrat" (sic). An Indian intelligence official said the account appeared genuine.

Ehsan said however that the Sunday attack was specifically aimed at Pakistan Army.

The elaborate border parade, which draws hundreds of people every day, is conducted by the military of both sides.

"We have proudly stated that our target was the security forces and their installations in which we succeeded," Ehsan told Reuters.

Ehsan said that unlike the TTP's narrow focus on war in the tribal areas on the Afghan border, his outfit sought to attack countries around the region.

"The TTP focuses on Pakistan only, while we have a global agenda of jihad ‎and therefore we have people from all over the world including the Arab and Western world for this mission."

Al Qaeda threat

Further unnerving India, al Qaeda chief Ayman al-Zawahiri, said to be close to TTP-JA, has announced the creation of a South Asia wing of al Qaeda, threatening to stage attacks on countries across the subcontinent.

The new group's first major attack was a botched attempt in September to hijack a Pakistani warship and attack a US navy vessel at a base near Karachi.

On Tuesday, India's navy withdrew two warships from the eastern port of Kolkata after intelligence agencies warned of an attack on the port and the city.