Indian Intelligence Bureau has issued a security alert to several states on Thursday after al Qaeda leader Ayman al Zawahri announced the formation of an Indian branch of his militant group.
Quoting two television networks, Reuters reported.
Al-Qaeda has launched an Indian branch of his militant group to "raise the flag of jihad" across South Asia.
Ayman al-Zawahiri, al-Qaeda leader, has made the announcement in a 55-minute video message posted online, reports BBC.
Zawahiri said "al-Qaeda in the Indian Subcontinent" 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.
He urged the "umma", or Muslim nation, to" wage jihad against its enemies, to liberate its land, to restore its sovereignty and to revive its caliphate".
"[Al-Qaeda] is an entity that was formed to promulgate the call of the reviving imam, Sheikh Osama Bin Laden. May Allah have mercy upon him," Zawahiri said.
Announcing the formation of "al-Qaeda in the Indian Subcontinent", Zawahiri appeared eager to regain some of the limelight.
In his video message, Zawahari pledged renewed loyalty to Afghan Taliban leader Mullah Omar.
Al-Qaeda leader’s stated allegiance is an apparent snub to Islamic State (IS) militants.
IS is challenging al-Qaeda to lead worldwide Islamist militancy.
Counter-terrorism experts say al-Qaeda's ageing leadership is vying with IS to recruit followers after the success of militants in the Middle East in attracting young followers worldwide by conquering large amounts of territory across Iraq and Syria.
IS leader Abu Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi describes himself as a "caliph" - or head of state - and has called for the support of all Muslims around the world.
The two groups fell out in 2013 over the IS expansion into Syria, where Baghdadi's followers have carried out decapitations, crucifixions, and other forms of capital punishment.
