This has been confirmed by the government after a detailed assessment of the tape — which runs an hour and 17 minutes — by security agencies.

According to the assessment — which also confirmed the authenticity of the tape — Zawahiri speaks in Arabic and another Al-Qaeda leader, Adam Gadahn, slams the West in English. India is equated with Russia, US and Israel as an axis against which Al-Qaeda will carry out attacks. The tape is said to make an explicit threat against Hindus in Kashmir and, for the first time, contains visuals of “Hindu rallies” to make its case.

The fact that Zawahiri has mentioned Kashmir, sources said, suddenly raises the level of the threat. Among the founders of Al-Qaeda, Zawahiri joined the radical jihadi movement in Egypt and then rose to be Osama’s trusted lieutenant. Recent reports indicate that he has only grown more powerful in the Al-Qaeda and for that reason, sources said, a threat from him needs to be taken “very seriously”.

What is also worrying is another unidentified voice in the background naming Indian missions in Kabul, Kandahar and Jalalabad for their “alleged machinations” in supporting the American action in Afghanistan. This voice speaks in Arabic as the visuals of Afghanistan are shown.

Security agencies have flagged the following as key conclusions drawn from the tape:

• This is the first time there is a direct reference to India and Kashmir in an Al-Qaeda tape, an endorsement of terrorism in Kashmir. In fact, rattled Kashmiri separatist groups have been quick to denounce the tape saying there is no place for Al-Qaeda in what they call an “indigenous struggle.”

• Until now, only Pakistan had questioned the activities of Indian consulates in Afghanistan. While there have been threats from local groups, this is the first time Indian consulates have been singled out by Al-Qaeda.

• This is the first time that the terror group is equating Hindus with “Zionists” and exhorting members to target Indian interests along with those of US, Russia and Israel.

All this has got a concerned North Block alerting the agencies concerned to take necessary countermeasures to deal with this new threat. Sources said security is being stepped up at select Indian missions abroad as agencies forecast increased threats from international jihadi groups in the days ahead.

On a broader plane, however, the Al-Qaeda tape focuses on US and Pakistan President Pervez Musharraf for taking action against their cadre and other Muslims in Afghanistan and Pakistan. India, sources said, is part of what is a long message threatening US interests and the Pakistan Army.