ISIS, al-Qaida at loggerheads?

HYDERABAD: An internal war between followers of ISIS and al-Qaida to project themselves as the true leaders of the Islamic jihadist movement surfaced here on Friday with Hyderabad-based alleged former SIMI activist Moutasim Billah urging two suspected terror recruits from Maharashtra, who were arrested earlier this week, not to align with the Islamic group which has taken control of parts of Syria and Iraq and instead go with al-Qaida.
This was claimed by the Hyderabad police in its remand report submitted to the Tenth Additional Chief Metropolitan Magistrate, Secunderabad, at the time of producing alleged SIMI activist Shah Mudassir and Shoaib Ahmed Khan, both natives of Maharashtra. According to the police, the duo had planned to go to Afghanistan for militant training and had come to Hyderabad to meet Billah who was to have arranged their visas for Afghanistan as well as provide them financial support. They were arrested by the city police at Secunderabad railway station no sooner did they land in the city on Wednesday.
According to the remand report, the two terror suspects had met Billah during their earlier visit to Hyderabad on September 2, this year, during which he had promised them help to procure visas from Mumbai as well as provide financial support. "The said Mothasim Billah advised them to go to Afghanistan and join with al-Qaida instead of ISIS so that they can participate in true Jihad and fight for the formation of Islamic state in India," the remand report said.
According to the remand report of the Hyderabad police, Pakistani national Kamaran Sha, who had sent jihadi literature and explosive literature in Roman Urdu to the two terror suspects from Maharashtra, told them in his communication that he wanted to see the death of 500 Indian Hindus of Maharashtra state in a bomb blast in Maharashtra.
Mudassir and Shoaib were allegedly in touch with Afganistan national Zahid Ali Hindi and two Pakistani nationals including Kamaran Sha through social media as well as constantly following Al Isabha website, which details al-Qaida and other terror organisations that are waging war against India.
According to the police, Zahid Ali Hindi advised the two Maharashtra youths to first reach Iraq on a visiting visa before reaching Afghanistan. "If you reach Iraq, my associates will pick you up and help you reach Afghanistan,'' Zahid told the duo in his conversation with the accused. Six months ago they obtained their passports and approached Hyderabad-based Billah to help them get visa. And it was Billah who advised them to align with Al Qaida rather than ISIS, the police remand report claimed.