India strong enough to counter Al-Qaeda threat, says Jaitley

Srinagar: India and its Army are strong enough to prevent inimical elements like terror outfit Al-Qaeda from creating trouble in the country, Defence Minister Arun Jaitley on Sunday.

On Friday, Al-Qaeda had released a video in Urdu calling on Muslims in the Kashmir region to follow the footsteps of their "brothers" in Iraq and Syria and launch a jihad against Indian authorities.

The video, uploaded on jihadi forums by al-Qaeda's media arm Al-Sahab, is probably the first produced by the global terror network that specifically focuses on Kashmir.

“Obviously, there are forces that are inimical to India which would not like peace to continue.

"But I am reasonably confident that the strength of India as state not to allow such elements to create trouble in India, is considerable.

“Even though I am optimistic, there is an element of caution in my optimism as people inimical to India like the example you have just given (Al-Qaeda) will try to foment trouble,” Jaitley said.

The meeting was jointly chaired by Jaitley and J&K Chief Minister Omar Abdullah in Srinagar.

Cong to counter BJP’s Article 370 'threat'

Srinagar: Apprehending that the BJP may play up the controversy over abrogating Article 370 of the Constitution, which gives special status to Jammu and Kashmir, ahead of the Assembly elections, the Congress has started framing a strategy to reach out to people in the Jammu region.

Congress sources said the party has apprehensions that the BJP may try to polarise the Hindu-majority Jammu region over the abrogation of Article 370 just as it whipped up a controversy related to the construction of temporary structures for pilgrims of the annual Amarnath Yatra ahead of the 2008 Assembly elections.