New Delhi, Sep 04 (ANI): In a video posted online, Al Qaeda chief Ayman al Zawahri announced the formation of an Indian branch of his militant group and said that he will "raise the flag of jihad" across the subcontinent. He also renewed a longstanding vow of loyalty to Afghan Taliban leader Mullah Omar, in an apparent snub to the Islamic State armed group challenging al Qaeda for leadership of transnational Islamist militancy. Zawahri described the formation of "Al Qaeda in the Indian Subcontinent" as a glad tidings for Muslims "in Burma, Bangladesh, Assam, Gujarat, Ahmedabad, and Kashmir" and said the new wing would rescue Muslims there from injustice and oppression. As well being an indirect repudiation of Islamic State, the announcement could pose a challenge to India's new Prime Minister, Narendra Modi.
