In a 55-minute long video , al Qaeda announced it will launch a new branch in the Indian subcontinent . Speaking in the video , al Qaeda leader Ayman al-Zawahiri said the purpose is to `` wage jihad against its enemies , to liberate its land , to restore its sovereignty , and to revive its Caliphate . '' Al-Zawahiri also said he seeks to gain support `` for the vulnerable '' in Myanmar and Bangladesh ; in the Indian states of Assam and Gujarat ; and in Kashmir , the disputed region between India and Pakistan . He called for `` rescue '' from `` injustice , oppression , persecution , and suffering '' in these areas . Some analysts view al Qaeda 's announcement as an indication they 're struggling for followers as ISIS gains support in the global Islamist movement . Peter Bergen , CNN 's national security analyst called the video `` hyperventilation and posturing . '' `` It 's al-Zawahiri 's obvious way of getting some of the limelight back , '' he said as ISIS has moved front and center . The Indian government is trying to confirm the video 's authenticity , said Amarendra Tiwari , an official with India 's Ministry of Home Affairs . The security alert has been issued in parts of India , although details were not given . The al Qaeda video is unlikely to win over constituents , said Bernard Haykel , professor of Near Eastern Studies at Princeton University , about the India announcement . `` They are losing a lot of constituents to the Islamic State , '' he said . `` They 're trying to show their global reach as an organization , but I 'm not sure of exactly what sign they are trying to send . '' If ISIS undermines al Qaeda , `` it 's going to affect funding , '' said Ajit Singh , senior fellow at South Asia Terrorism Portal in New Delhi . The radicalized Muslims are more likely to fund ISIS . `` That 's why al Qaeda is trying to increase its influence , '' he said . Singh says it 's not al Qaeda 's first time trying to gain a foothold in India . India , a predominantly Hindu nation , has a 13 % Muslim population , according to the country 's census . Inter-religious relations have become tense before . In 2002 , Gujarat was wracked with anti-Muslim violence , in which more than 1,000 people , mostly Muslims , were killed . Most of the world 's Muslims live in Asia , with about 1 billion in Asia-Pacific and about 322 million in the Middle East and North Africa , according to the Pew Research Center . The style of al Qaeda 's latest video also highlights a stylistic difference with ISIS , which are often shot in the light during daytime , noted Peter Bergen , CNN 's national security analyst . `` Al-Zawahiri 's video is boring , talking into the camera , '' he said . `` ISIS videos are well-edited and dynamic . '' ISIS vs. al Qaeda : How they 're different .
Al Qaeda issues lengthy video on its mission in Indian subcontinent . Leader of al Qaeda says he seeks to `` wage jihad '' Analysts say al Qaeda is struggling for followers as ISIS gains support .