An online video purportedly shows dozens of former militants of the Pakistani Taliban pledging allegiance to ISIS and beheading a man they identified as a Pakistani soldier.
The video is bound to raise alarm bells over whether ISIS is tapping support within Pakistan and Afghanistan, a region awash with dozens of militant groups.
Released on Twitter and other jihadi websites on Saturday, it shows influential former Pakistani Taliban spokesman Shahidullah Shahid and other militants passing through a rugged mountainous area on horseback, waving ISIS flags.
Shahid already pledged allegiance to ISIS last October and was later sacked by the Pakistani Taliban.
“As you know, most of the attendees have pledged allegiance to the Caliphate before, and now we present a collective pledge of allegiance,” Shahid told the militants.
Shahid announced that commanders of ten militant groups had chosen Hafiz Saeed Khan from Pakistan’s Orakzai tribal district as the new IS head for Afghanistan and Pakistan.
Saeed Khan was then seen taking a pledge of allegiance to ISIS leader Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi.
The video also shows militants beheading a man in military uniform who they claimed was a Pakistan soldier.
It was not clear where and when the video had been filmed nor could it be independently verified.
Leaflets calling for support for ISIS have been seen in parts of northwest Pakistan, and at least five Pakistani Taliban commanders and three lesser cadres from the Afghan Taliban have pledged their backing.
Pro-ISIS slogans have appeared on walls in several cities in both countries and in Kabul University, where a number of students were arrested.
Pakistan has strengthened its own offensive against the Taliban since their attack on a military-run school on Dec. 16 killed 150 people, 134 of them children.

Former Pakistani Taliban militants join ISIS, video shows

Released on Twitter and other jihadi websites on Saturday, it shows influential former Pakistani Taliban spokesman Shahidullah Shahid and other militants passing through a rugged mountainous area on horseback, waving ISIS flags.
AFP, Islamabad
Sunday 11 January 2015
Last Update: Wednesday, 20 May 2020 KSA 09:44 - GMT 06:44
DAY | WEEK |
-
6519 Views Coronavirus cases in the UAE surge as authorities detect 3,407 new infections
-
2726 Views WhatsApp says no one will have their account suspended or deleted on February 8
-
2203 Views US will impose sanctions on Iran over conventional arms, metals industry: Sources
-
1626 Views Indonesia earthquake: Damaged roads, lack of gear hinder search rescue
-
1496 Views Coronavirus: Jordan’s King Abdullah receives COVID-19 vaccine
-
1122 Views Palestinians to hold first elections in 15 years, presidential vote on July 31
-
21921 Views Saudi Arabia’s Crown Prince reveals project ‘THE LINE’ in futuristic city of NEOM
-
14196 Views Musk urged followers to ‘use Signal,’ sends unrelated stock with similar name flying
-
11774 Views Oman Sultan issues new law organizing succession, naming of crown prince
-
9577 Views Coronavirus: UAE reports 3,362 new COVID-19 cases, total hits 239,587
-
7335 Views COVID-19: Saudi Arabia warns against travel to 12 countries without permission
-
6839 Views Trump supporter Jake Angeli seen in horned fur hat charged in Capitol violence
SHOW MORE