IS flags in Taxila?

E-Paper | March 10, 2026

RAWALPINDI: Law enforcement agencies have confiscated four flags of the militant outfit known as the Islamic State fighting in Iraq and Syria (ISIS or IS).

The flags of the group, also known locally by its Arabic acronym ‘Daish’, were fixed to electricity poles in a closely guarded part of Taxila, near the Pakistan Ordinance Factories (POF), and an investigation has been initiated to root out any sympathisers of the terrorist organisation from areas near the federal capital.

Read: IS recruiting thousands in Pakistan, govt warned in 'secret' report

A senior Intelligence officer told Dawn that a few flags, bearing the IS monogram, were found flying near the main entrance to the POF complex, while others were spotted on nearby electricity poles.

So far, police and intelligence agencies do not know who put up the flags in the heavily-protected area. No suspects have been detained yet in connection with this matter.

Also read: Police begin probe into graffiti about IS

“Investigators are looking at footage from surveillance cameras to try and identify those who put up the flags in this area,” he said, adding that some locals who were in the printing business had been questioned by police in a bid to identify suspects.

According to the intelligence officer, the images obtained from CCTV footage were unclear and law enforcement agencies had so far failed to obtain a positive match.

“The footage shows a number of individuals installing the flags, but investigators have not yet been able to obtain a clean image of their faces that can be matched to Nadra records,” he said.

Also read: Islamic State fears grow in Pakistan and Afghanistan

When reached for comment, Regional Police Officer Akhtar Umar Hayat Laleka cautiously indicated that there had been reports of the presence of one such flag in the area and a team had been dispatched to investigate. “While the team verified the incident, the flag turned out to be that of ‘some organization’,” he said, refraining from specifically naming the IS group.

Published in Dawn, November 13th , 2014

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rehan

Nov 13, 2014 08:52am

This menace needs to be nipped in the bud . It makes Al-Qaeda looks like angels !

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Nov 13, 2014 09:53am

Too much Media hype regarding this subject..

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being human

Nov 13, 2014 10:03am

Taxila is the Same place where the master strategist,economist chanakya studied at Taxila university.seems that this place has gone down since that day.

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Aisha

Nov 13, 2014 10:52am

alarming indeed

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Realist

Nov 13, 2014 10:53am

@rehan For general knowledge, IS is not Al-Qaeda.

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Chi Ben

Nov 13, 2014 10:57am

IS is a disgrace to humanity.

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ashok kumar lal

Nov 13, 2014 11:25am

ISIS flag is not banned, so how can any one object. Best is to ignore it.If people are for it, even banning will not help, but as globally now ISIS has started losing, public will only laugh at it.

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Abdul Manan

Nov 13, 2014 11:27am

IS has caused more destruction for Islam than Americans and Jews. May Allah protect us from these Fitnaz.

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Jakoji

Nov 13, 2014 11:40am

From Taxila university to terrorism.. what a sad state of affairs...

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Adam Bezar

Nov 13, 2014 11:47am

Khilafat geri is already in the blood of Pakistanis whether it is politics or cricket. Do we need someone else for seeking allegiance ?

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Shehryar

Nov 13, 2014 12:03pm

@ ... "So far, police and intelligence agencies do not know who put up the flags in the heavily-protected area ..." yeah, the area is SO HEAVILY PROTECTED that anyone can climb up the poles and put IS flags without the PROTECTORS noticing it. The fact that makers and distributors of the flags have yet to be caught despite all the intelligence networks and continuous highlighting in the media, is very very upsetting.

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M.Malik

Nov 13, 2014 01:19pm

I wouldn't be surprised if in a few years, we find out that IS was a figment of someone's vivid imagination... The powers that be need some (imaginary) foe, if it isn't the Red China or Russia Rising, to justify the military-industrial empire to thrive. I don't believe everything I hear, read or see on any media, whether BBC, CNN or Fox etc. Least of all, Youtube or Internet for that matter.

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catherine

Nov 13, 2014 01:33pm

@Oz would you want there to be too little?

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Haq_na_mani network

Nov 13, 2014 02:01pm

Sad that Mohaenjodaro and Taxila went to Pakistan where they are not respected

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M. Emad

Nov 13, 2014 02:08pm

Space probe lands on comet, IS(IS) lands on Pakistan !

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FZR

Nov 13, 2014 02:12pm

This development is disturbing, the government should focus all intelligence resources (ISI et al.) on identifying the culprits. If this movement of IS gains any ground within the country, then we can say goodbye to any civil liberties that we enjoy. Leave aside the purdah on women, they will make men also wear the ancient clothes, ban all entertainment, celebrations, educatuion, the list is endless. STOP them now or we will be taken back to pre-historic dinosaur times.

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Muhammad Iqbal

Nov 13, 2014 02:24pm

The interior minister says there is no existence of anything called IS. Kamal hai yaar

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Mian Shahid Mehmood

Nov 13, 2014 03:04pm

Heaven will not go asunder in case some flags of ISIS are found displayed in any part of Pakistan. If ISIS has any connections or establishment in Pakistan, the throwing out the flags would serve no purpose. Better for the Pakistan leadership to hold their nerves, should not play unduly sensitive on the flag issue. The spread of ISIS or any other Rightest philosophy is in reaction to what USA is doing with the Muslim countries world over. You can guard geographical frontiers but the philosophical frontiers have no man made limits. ISIS is a case of spread of a philosophy.

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anees zaidvi

Nov 13, 2014 03:16pm

@Realist - Rehan DID NOT say IS is Al-Qaeda. He means looking at what IS has been doing gives you a feeling that Al-Qaeda were not so vicious.

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Ganga Din

Nov 13, 2014 03:18pm

IS has a very simple strategy. Time. Wait till the army and the people are fatigued and then hit it hard and clean up with one scoop. All of you should wait and see. No army, no matter how strong, can continue to fight for ever. Fatigue eventually sets in.

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Husain Jan

Nov 13, 2014 03:19pm

@Shehryar Yes very disturbing and worrying indeed, no doubt about it...but what to say about our present govt and its interior minister Ch Nisar saheb who is simply not prepared to accept that there is any kind of presence or threat from the IS ..leave alone taking any pre-emptive action before it is too late.

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Salma Feroz Ali

Nov 13, 2014 03:19pm

Attention seeking techniques from already wounded TTP

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Zak

Nov 13, 2014 03:27pm

@Realist IS is, while Al Qaeda was!

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Zak

Nov 13, 2014 03:28pm

@Haq_na_mani network you mean like the Babri masjid in Ayodhya.

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Aryan

Nov 13, 2014 03:37pm

alarm bells ringing... this is what happens when we support terrorist organisations like Taliban...

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muhammad

Nov 13, 2014 03:44pm

@Realist I think you do not understand his post

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Moiz Omar

Nov 13, 2014 03:48pm

Any sympathizers of this group need to be found and taken action against very quickly.

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muhammad

Nov 13, 2014 03:49pm

@M.Malik ISIS has already brought colossal destruction and mayhem in Syria and Iraq kindly visit these countries and have first hand experience instead of relying on any media, whether BBC, CNN or Fox etc. Least of all, Youtube or Internet

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Qamar

Nov 13, 2014 04:07pm

@being human, Never heard of him. I think you have imagine the name.

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Imran

Nov 13, 2014 04:08pm

what about the Hizbollah flags seen flying at the PTI rally in Islamabad

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Qamar

Nov 13, 2014 04:12pm

@Oz,I agree with you.

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Zak

Nov 13, 2014 04:41pm

@Imran did anyone see 'Manchester United' one at PTI as well.

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M.Saeed

Nov 13, 2014 04:51pm

@rehan : You need to see a little deeper. Al-Qaeda in all probabilities is a front for some under-ground or covert establishment without any established street address and no links to recruit or register members, while ISIS is an entity on the ground fighting with the help of dejected people of Iraq and Syria for a well stated cause. It may be crude and ruthless in its own way but those who attacked WTC and still making the life miserable in almost the entire world, have no known agenda to do something solid, except harming humanity for no apparent cause. Their real masters would only know the truth.

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being human

Nov 13, 2014 05:14pm

@Qamar that's the reason why the country is lagging in education and science.

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Nov 13, 2014 05:30pm

@Zak correct, Ayodhya was just one and thousands of temples have been desecrated in Pakistan since 1947 what about them or you just rant for the sake of ranting?

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Syed Hussain Akbari

Nov 13, 2014 05:49pm

@LS Just clean your table first before throwing mud on any one----- you land grabbers. Junagadh, Hyderabad Deccan and Goa are only some examples with bad eyes on Kashmir.

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Ali

Nov 13, 2014 07:21pm

My question is why the Pakistani government had allowed Afghan refugees as Imam of mosque? In KPK the there were numbers of Imam who were heading the pray in the Mosque and that is the main problem. These people are involved in every crime please get hold of Afghans. In KPK they created lots of problems for the local people and one Afghan refugee mad Pakistani national ID card and claimed the land of the local. The government have to take action.

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Ali

Nov 13, 2014 07:31pm

The ISIS agents cannot come into Pakistan by air or from Iran border and the only way for them is via Pak-Afghanistan. Last time we heard through news papers that they had meeting in Balochistan, let me remind that all Pak-Afghan border are open and it can't be well protected, because of its nature. government have to see for the barbed wire all along the Pak-Afghan border, to stop the intruders.

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muhammad

Nov 13, 2014 08:02pm

@M.Saeed "while ISIS is an entity on the ground fighting with the help of dejected people of Iraq and Syria for a well stated cause. It may be crude and ruthless in its own way" kindly enlighten us about their "well stated cause" blowing mosques, shrines, historical places, beheading whoever come in their way either Shia, Sunni, Christians, Kurds, Yazdis, molesting girls etc is this their stated cause ?

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Sierrabrave

Nov 13, 2014 08:34pm

@Qamar that's because you have disowned your roots, "Mr Arabia"

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Realist

Nov 13, 2014 08:44pm

@anees zaidvi I stand corrected. Sorry. My mistake.

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islamabadian

Nov 14, 2014 12:14am

This is done by ASWJ and LEJ ..

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Ganga Din

Nov 15, 2014 12:30am

What's with this IS propaganda suddenly. These are 25-30000 kids riding around in pickup trucks and can be wiped out very quickly. Yes they have captured some equipment but that won't last much longer without spare parts. So what's a big deal?

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