Al-Qaeda threat to Games: ISI

After the Jama Masjid firing incident on September 19 and the subsequent Indian Mujahideen (IM) e-mail warning to target the Commonwealth Games (CWG), Pakistan's Inter Services Intelligence (ISI) is now allegedly spreading the spectre of an Al-Qaeda threat to the sporting event.

After the Jama Masjid firing incident on September 19 and the subsequent Indian Mujahideen (IM) e-mail warning to target the Commonwealth Games (CWG), Pakistan's Inter Services Intelligence (ISI) is now allegedly spreading the spectre of an Al-Qaeda threat to the sporting event.

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The ISI is floating theory on Al-Qaeda plans to target the CWG and to stoke civil unrest in Kashmir, "with the help of friendly Pakistani media persons."

"Al-Qaeda, however, has not and is not active in India till now. Counter-terror agencies have not detected any Al-Qaeda footprint behind any terror activities in the country," an a senior home ministry official said.
The official referred to a recent news report, titled 'Al-Qaeda sees opportunity in Kashmir', published in Asia Times
Online by an Islamabad-based Pakistani journalist.

The report warned: 'Commonwealth Games are due to be held in the capital, and Al-Qaeda has already warned they will be a target.' It also said, "The Delhi attack was claimed by the little-known Indian Mujahideen, which earlier had claimed other attacks in India that were later proven to be Al-Qaeda's operations.'

It is apprehended that the ISI's aim could be to create a fear-psychosis among foreigners who are in the city for the Games, as "they know of Al-Qaeda very well," said the official.