Thread by @Adil_Lateef

Al Qaida's As Sahab media has now released a video statement of it's #Kashmir operative, Faisal Ishfaq Bhat, now based in Afghanistan. In around 30-minute-long statement, he details his Jihadi journey since 90s from Kashmir and association with Ghazi Baba. 1/n.

In the first part of his speech, the al Qaeda operative Faisal praises Ghazi Baba's ideology & military strategy which he says was free from the influence of Pakistan secret agencies. He says he was initially trained by Ghazi Baba somewhere in Bandipora in mid '90s. 2/n

Faisal narrates that due to internal rifts in Harkat-ul-Ansaar (the earlier version of Jaish-e-Muhammad) he and his associates lost contact with Ghazi Baba and then they decided to cross over to Pakistan for better arms training. 3/n #Kashmir

The al-Qaeda operative then takes on Pakistan state, it's agencies and army, accusing them if using Kashmir jihad and outfits for their strategic interests. He details how Pakistan uses and influences militant groups focussed on Kashmir according to it's wishes and needs. 4/n

Throughout his speech, the al Qaeda operative from Kashmir praises Ghazi Baba, the mastermind of 2001 Indian parliament attack, and Afzal Guru. He claims Pakistan would've sabotaged Parliament attack if it had been aware of the same in advance. 5/n.

The al Qaida operative says after crossing over to Pakistan the reality of "so-called associates" - a reference to Pak army and agencies - of Kashmir jihad dawned on them. That's when according to him they sought "opening of ways from Allah" and found refuge in al Qaida. 6/n

Faisal, who hails from Srinagar according to his own account, mentions the u-turn Pakistan took after 9/11 on #Kashmir militancy and describes it as treachery. 7/n

The al Qaida operative credits Ghazi Baba's grooming and ideology for his inclusion in the global Jihadist outfit. He eulogises slain al Qaida commanders including Ilyas Kashmiri & Ahsan Aziz, both Kashmiris who had abandoned "Pakistan sponsored jihad" & joined AQ. 8/n

The al Qaida operative praises Burhan Wani, the predecessor of Zakir Musa and Afzal Guru, the 2001 Indian parliament attack convict who was hanged in 2013. However there is no mention of Zakir Musa, the successor of Burhan. It appears the video was shot before his killing. 9/n

The al Qaida operative Faisal concludes by saying that "mujahideen & leaders of AQIS are eager to meet their brethren in #Kashmir... soon they would join them & launch attacks on oppressive army & police". End.

This release comes just hours after AQIS eulogy of Zakir Musa.