The Islamic State has claimed that militants in Jammu and Kashmir have pledged their allegiance to the group “to fight co-worshipping Hindus”, in the 13th edition of their online propaganda magazine Dabiq. Hafiz Saeed Khan, the IS chief for Khurasan – the historical name given to the area including Afghanistan, Pakistan and parts of India – said in an interview with the magazine, that IS had made “specific arrangements” in Kashmir and that “Muslims will soon hear pleasant news of the Caliphate’s expansion to those lands”.

Khan further accused Pakistan of exploiting Islamic organisations, adding that Pakistani intelligence “direct the work” of groups like Lashkar-e-Taiba. He described the country, as well as Afghanistan, as enemies of the so-called caliphate. The IS regional head also alleged that Afghan Taliban chief Akhtar Mansoor had deep connections with Pakistani intelligence and that the Pakistani Taliban faction led by Mullah Fazlullah had formed ties with Mansoor.