Jan 01 , 2016
News
Islamic State has no footprint in Pakistan, FO says
ISLAMABAD - The Foreign Office on Thursday reiterated that the Islamic State militant group has no presence in Pakistan amid reports that a group of 20 people left the country for Syria recently to join the ultra-radical Middle Eastern group.
“We have seen media reports that certain elements trying to associate themselves with the Islamic State have been arrested and that investigations are going on,” Foreign Office spokesman Qazi Khalilullah said. He was speaking at his weekly news briefing in Islamabad.
He made it clear, however, that the Islamic State has no footprint in Pakistan. “We will not tolerate even the shadow of the Islamic State in Pakistan. We have alerted our security agencies to the threat posed by the Islamic State. They will take appropriate action, if required,” Qazi said.
His statement came amid reports that three women from Lahore had left for Syria along with their children in order to join the militant group. An FIR registered initially alleged that the children were kidnapped by the women, but Lahore Deputy Inspector General Haider Ashraf later told BBC Urdu that they were all members of the same family.
The development came to light a day after security forces claimed busting a group of eight people accused of trying to recruit people in Sialkot for the Islamic State.
Courtesy www.dailytimes.com.pk