Union Home Minister Rajnath Singh on Saturday expressed concern over the fact that some Indian youths have been attracted to terror group Islamic State (IS), and said the Government takes it as serious a challenge.

Addressing a conference of the DGPs and IGPs in Guwahati, a day after a Mumbai youth returned home after a stint with the IS in Iraq, Singh said: “Although the terror group was born out of Syria and Iraq, the Indian sub-continent cannot remain untouched by this menace. We cannot take it lightly.”

The Home Minister Rajnath Singh added that many foreign terrorist groups think that since a large number of Muslims live in India, they can recruit many of them and fight for the creation of an Islamic country

He described as a threat al-Qaida’s declaration to form a wing—Qaida-ul-Jehad—for the Indian sub-continent, and said the global terror group’s intention was to bring Bangladesh and parts of India under its grip, “which the country would not allow to happen”.

Singh also said Pakistan continues to take the alibi of non-state actors being involved in subversive activities in India.

“If non-state actors are involved in terrorist acts in India, then is ISI a non-state actor? It is the state actors who have a role in trying to destabilising our country. Pakistan has not abandoned its efforts to harm India.”

The Home Minister added that many foreign terrorist groups think that since a large number of Muslims live in India, they can recruit many of them and fight for creation of an Islamic country.