Al-Qaeda's statement on 'jihad' in Kashmir is a ploy of ISI

(PTI) New Delhi, Dt

As the Taliban prepares to form a new government in Afghanistan, India says its main focus right now is not to use Afghan soil for terrorism. Pakistan's spy agency ISI is behind Al Qaeda's statement about spreading jihad in Kashmir, an official said.

Two days after talks with the Indian ambassador to Qatar in Doha and a top Taliban leader, India said its main focus at present was on preventing Afghan soil from being used for terrorist activities. India has expressed its concerns to the Taliban leader. Asked whether India would recognize the Taliban government after the Doha meeting, External Affairs Ministry spokesperson Arindam Bagchi said it was too early to talk about it.

Al-Qaeda has called for a global jihad to liberate the so-called Islamic State following the withdrawal of US troops from Kabul airport, an official said. Al Qaeda's statement added Kashmir's name at the behest of Pakistan's spy agency ISI and removed Chechnya and Xinjiang.

Pakistan's Imran government, meanwhile, has identified itself as a protector of the Taliban and has admitted on-camera that it harbored and educated Taliban militants. Pakistan's Interior Minister Sheikh Rashid has openly admitted that the Pakistani government led by Imran Khan has done a lot for Taliban leaders.

Meanwhile, the White House said Thursday that neither the United States nor any other country is in a hurry to recognize the Taliban government in Afghanistan. The decision to recognize the Taliban will be based on their behavior in fulfilling the promises they have made to the global community.