AQIS not in reaction to its split within ISIL: US

The creation of Al Qaeda in Indian Sub-continent by al Qaeda leader Ayman Mohammed Rabie al-Zawahiri is not in reaction to the organisations split with the Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant (ISIL), US lawmakers have been told.
"We assess the creation of AQIS is not a reaction to al-Qaeda's split with ISIL, though the timing of the announcement may be used to bolster al-Qaeda's standing in the global jihad movement," said Matthew G Olsen, Director of the National Counterterrorism Centre in his testimony before the House Committee on Homeland Security yesterday.
This month, al-Qaeda announced the establishment of its newest affiliate, al-Qaeda in the Indian Subcontinent (AQIS).

Al-Qaeda used social media and online web forums to make known the existence of AQIS, which al- Qaeda said it has worked for more than two years to create, Olson said.
"AQIS, which is led by Sheikh Asim Umer, has stated objectives that include violence against the US, establishing Islamic law in South Asia, ending occupation of Muslim lands, and defending Afghanistan under Mullah Omar's leadership," Olson said.
On September 11, AQIS publicly claimed responsibility for a thwarted attack on a Pakistani Naval vessel at the Karachi Naval Dockyard.

The group had planned to use the attack to target a US Navy ship, he said.

"AQIS also claimed responsibility for the killing of a senior Pakistani Inter-Services Intelligence officer earlier this month," Olson told US lawmakers during his Congressional testimony.
Olson said Lashkar-e-Tayyiba (LeT) remains focused on its regional goals in South Asia.
The group is against improving relations between India and Pakistan, and its leaders consistently speak out against India and the United States, accusing both countries of trying to destabilise Pakistan, he said.
LeT has attacked Western interests in South Asia in pursuit of its regional objectives, as demonstrated by the targeting of hotels frequented by Westerners during the Mumbai attacks in 2008.

Olson said LeT leaders almost certainly recognise that an attack on the US would result in intense international backlash against Pakistan and endanger the group's safe haven there.
"However, LeT also provides training to Pakistani and Western militants, some of whom could plot terrorist attacks in the West without direction from LeT leadership," he added.
According to Olson, Pakistani and Afghan militant groups including Tehrik-e Taliban Pakistan (TTP), the Haqqani Network, and LeT continue to pose a direct threat to US interests and its allies in the region, where these groups probably will remain focused.