KARACHI: Whether Daesh or ISIS has really set its foot in the region of Pakistan and Afghanistan is a question that has assumed considerable significance particularly in the wake of terrorist events of the past weeks and months in the region.
However, security and government officials in the country have, on more than one occasion, denied in unequivocal terms the presence of Daesh, Arabic name of Islamic State of Iraq and Syria (ISIS), in Pakistan.
Daesh leaflets were found from two crime scenes in the port city of Karachi. First, from the site where Dr Debra Lobo survived an assassination attempt last month. Second, from the bus of Ismaili community whose 44 passengers were brutally murdered near Safoora Goth area a week ago.
The Counter Terrorism Department of Karachi claimed to have arrested four terrorists involved in both the attacks while police sources claimed that all the nabbed suspects had ties to al-Qaeda.
Defence analyst Brigadier (retd) Saad Khan says other Daesh like-minded groups in the country were faking affiliation with ISIS and using its name with an aim to impress its (ISIS) leadership.
He said Daesh does not have any infrastructure in the region; however the retired Brigadier added that its sympathizers and those who endorse the group’s ideology were actually trying to convey a message to the ISIS leadership. They want ISIS to provide them cover and financial support and they would work for the group in the region, he added.
THE NEWS INTERNATIONAL PAK
