Islamic State (IS) announced a new province in Indian territory, shortly after a violent clash with Indian soldiers last Friday.
Rabat – On May 10, the self-described Islamic State (IS) declared a new “Wilayat al-Hind” (“Province of India” in Arabic) in Indian territory, reported Reuters.
The announcement came after a reported violent clash between Indian security forces and allegedly IS affiliated members in Shopian, a village in Indian-controlled Kashmir territories.
The alleged IS announcement was released in Amaq News Agency, an IS-affiliated news agency.
The declaration also claimed to have “inflicted casualties on Indian army soldiers,” said Reuters.
IS’s Friday statement coincided with the Indian news reports on the killing of an IS-affiliated militant, Ishfaq Ahmad Sofi, in a violent clash with Indian security forces in Shopian. Reports showed that Sofi had ties with the Islamic State of Jammu and Kashmir (ISJK).
The declaration of new territory in India appears to be an attempt to bring life to the Islamic State’s geographical expansion endeavors under the “Caliphate” title, after recently having lost control over significant parts of Syria and Iraq to the Syrian and Iraqi armies.
