New Delhi: Days after al Qaeda leader Ayman al-Zawahiri announced the creation of a South Asian branch of his outfit to "raise the flag of jihad" in the Indian subcontinent, Home Minister Rajnath Singh on Friday said the video is still being examined for authenticity.
In the wake of the warning, the Centre sounded a countrywide alert to take possible precautionary steps.
Security agencies feel the video could be an attempt by al Qaeda to carry out fresh recruitment in the sub-continent as it stares at diminishing influence vis-a-vis the ISIS.
In a 55-minute video posted online, Zawahiri - who succeeded Osama bin Laden after he was killed in Pakistan – had also pledged renewed loyalty to Afghan Taliban leader Mullah Omar.
Announcing the formation of "Al Qaeda in the Indian subcontinent", Zawahiri - speaking in both Arabic and Urdu - said this "would be good news for Muslims in Burma, Bangladesh and in the Indian states of Assam, Gujarat and Jammu and Kashmir where they would be rescued from injustice and oppression".
