PESHAWAR: A group belonging to the militant Islamic State group, formerly known as the Islamic State of Iraq and Al Sham (ISIS), has distributed a booklet in parts of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and tribal areas, particularly in Afghan refugee camps.

The booklet in Pashto and Darri is titled Fateh (victory) and has the images of the IS flag and Kalashnikov on its cover. It is said to have been distributed in some areas of Afghanistan as well.

According to informed sources, a small group of activists led by an Afghan national has distributed the booklet.

It calls upon people to support the IS which has occupied large swathes of territory in Iraq and Syria.

It says the caliphate declared in parts of Iraq and Syria will expand to Khurasan, comprising Pakistan, Iran, Afghanistan and Central Asian countries.

A security official said the emergence of the IS-affiliated group was unlikely to change the militancy scenario in Pakistan.

He said that the local militants owed allegiance to Afghan Taliban leader Mullah Mohammad Omar and considered him to be their Amirul Momineen. Therefore, an IS affiliate in the country is unlikely to attract militant groups.

He said that Al Qaeda had been operating in the region for a long time and had its allies. It will never allow the IS to take its place.

Published in Dawn, September 4th, 2014