NSA to extend US trip to hold talks on ISIS, al Qaeda threat

National Security Advisor Ajit Doval has extended his US trip to discuss ways to counter Islamic State of Syria and Levant (ISIS) and al Qaeda terrorists with Susan Rice, his US counterpart and national intelligence director James R Clapper.

National Security Advisor Ajit Doval has extended his US trip to discuss ways to counter Islamic State of Syria and Levant (ISIS) and al Qaeda terrorists with Susan Rice, his US counterpart and national intelligence director James R Clapper.

Government sources said that during October 1-2, Doval — who returns to India on October 4 — will also interact with central intelligence agency director John O Brennan and FBI director James Corney with a plan to join the global endeavour to counter ISIS and the newly-announced Indian al Qaeda arm. India, however, is reluctant to join the fight against ISIS immediately due to its impact on seven million Indians living in West Asia and the 39 Punjabi labourers held hostage by ISIS in Mosul since June 15.

While India plans to share intelligence with its US counterparts on these two terrorist groups, Doval’s main focus will be on how to prevent Sunni Muslim youth from joining the ISIS-sponsored jihad in Iraq and Syria.

It is understood that during his meetings, Doval will seek help on preventing Islamic radicalisation over the internet by close cooperation in cyberspace in a bid to win the war against terrorists. As majority of global servers of internet companies are based out of the US, India will try to seek cooperation so that websites glorifying jihad are shut down.

Although all efforts are being made by Indian security agencies to prevent Muslim youth from joining the ISIS, the country faces a serious threat from the Indian arm of al Qaeda announced by Ayman Al Zawhiri on September 3.