Asim Umar, Al Qaeda's Sharia council chief, heads its operations on the sub-continent.
"Al Qaeda cannot be allowed to grow in India," Intelligence Bureau agents say even as international security agencies are focused on Islamic State's murderous threats.
The Intelligence Bureau and other Indian security agencies are on high alert after Al Qaeda released a video last fortnight announcing the creation of its South Asian wing to wage terror in the Indian sub-continent.
Among the individuals Indian agents have interrogated to know more about Al Qaeda's plans is Haider Ali, the main accused in last year's Bodh Gaya and Patna blasts.
Al Qaeda has already started operations on the Indian sub-continent long before its chief Ayman al-Zawahiri appeared on the video, the Students Islamic Movement of India operative reportedly revealed during his interrogation.
Ali claimed Abdul Waleed and Mohammad Owais were sent from Karachi to oversee the setting up of Al Qaeda modules in India. Uttar Pradesh's Anti-Terrorism Squad arrested the Pakistanis at Gorakhpur railway station in March before their plans could materialise.
Al Qaeda has planned blasts and political assassinations, Ali told interrogators.
SIMI, Ali told his interrogators, was willing to help Al Qaeda attain its goals, Intelligence Bureau sources told this correspondent. Muslim youth in India are not attracted to Islamic State, Ali added, since they find its murdering other Muslims offensive and unacceptable.
Waleed and Fahim were part of Lashkar-e-Tayiba, but had joined Al Qaeda, investigators told this correspondent.
The Pakistanis told their interrogators that Asim Umar, Al Qaeda's Sharia council chief, heads its operations on the sub-continent.
Image: Al Qaeda chief Ayman al-Zawahiri
