Excelsior Correspondent
SRINAGAR, Aug 26: As the Islamic State of Iraq and Syria (ISIS) has significant presence in Pakistan, Army in Kashmir is watchful and says, the way it attracts youth across the world, it is a cause of concern.
Sources said that last year the Governor of Baluchistan in Pakistan wrote a letter to all the senior Pakistani Police officers and Army that there is a significant presence of ISIS in the province and had asked them to be watchful. “However, it was kept a top secret and the police and Army has been watchful over their activities and are trying to deal with this growing threat”, they said.
Sources said that though there is no ISIS activity near Indian borders on the Pakistan side but its presence in that country is a concern for India.
The outgoing General Officer Commanding (GOC) 15 Corps, Lt General Subrata Saha, when asked about the ISIS threat on borders, said that there is no immediate threat but army is watchful. “As of now, there is no immediate threat on borders. But then we have to be very watchful. When we talk of LoC, there are no signs or visible signals (of ISIS) but then this is something we have to remain alert”, he added.
Lt General Saha said that the way ISIS spread in Middle East, the army is recognizing the threat which has to be dealt with. “If you see the manner in which it (ISIS) has spread into the eight countries and if you see the towns and cities that have come under their influence and they are all, most of them are oil rich, and the way it is there. So if you see the parameters and the response from major powers of the world are talking about doing, so quite clearly, the threat is being recognized and it has to be dealt with”, he added.
When asked about the ISIS flags and Baghdadi’s posters appearing in Kashmir, the GOC said that it is part of intense propaganda campaign. “Basically it is happening because of intense propaganda campaign that is there through the social media. Now, what actually is happening, it is a cycle we are seeing. From the social media, there is some element of self radicalization that is taking place. And, then we see such incidents and that gets picked up by electronic media followed by print media”, he added.
Lt General Saha said that the waving of ISIS flags and displaying of Baghdadi’s posters is a concern. “Waving of ISIS flags and displaying Baghdadi pictures is a concern because if you see the way youth from other parts of the world are being attracted (by ISIS). Though I don’t think there have been no such known instances in Kashmir that people going to parts of the world affected by ISIS. If you see the way they are able to attract the youths in large numbers, so it is definitely a cause of concern and it needs to be dealt appropriately by all the agencies and all the institutions that need to”, he added.
The GOC said that the trend of ISIS attracting youth can be arrested by fulfilling the individual aspirations of the youth. “Again as I say, I mean if that is becoming more attractive, obviously somewhere we need to focus on individual aspirations, we need to focus on the young person’s right to growth, young person’s aspirations for bright future. If we are able to address those, I see no reason why you should get misguided into other propaganda”, he said.
Lt General Saha said that the waiving of ISIS flags is restricted to a particular area in Kashmir. “If you see, by and large over here, in all of 2014 we had, I think 5 instances where flags were displayed. But this year what we are noticing on every Friday at one specific place, we are seeing these flags. It has not spread to other areas. That is still a saving grace. And, I think as long as it is being dealt with by engaging the youth, there is no reason why these flags should come up”, he added.
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