 "Maldives, India in talks for setting up counter-terror system")
Amid concerns over militant groups like ISIS attempting to radicalise its citizens, the Maldives said Monday it is in talks with India for setting up a bilateral counter-terrorism mechanism to combat the menace.
Maldivian Foreign Secretary Ali Naseer Mohamed, who held talks with his Indian counterpart S Jaishankar over the weekend on a host of issues, said that discussions on setting up such a mechanism were ongoing.
"The mechanism we are discussing with India is a bilateral one and our security and intelligence cooperation is mainly bilateral. It is a continuing discussion. The two countries are sharing ideas on how to make it operational. We have to work out the details," Ali told reporters here.
He asserted that the Maldives and India have a common interest in stopping radicalisation, counter-terrorism and addressing such issues.
Maldivian High Commissioner to India Ahmed Mohamed said, "There is a discussion between the Indian government and the Maldives on establishing a cross-border mechanism to address this issue and already the Maldives has institutionalised the process. We will be soon forming the mechanism."
Asked how many Maldivians are believed to have travelled to the Middle East to fight with the Islamic State and other terror groups, the Maldivian Foreign Secretary said the country's intelligence agencies estimate that the total number of those that have gone to the Middle East to engage in "illegal warfare" is less than 40.
Ali said the Maldives feels it is extremely vulnerable to the threat of radicalisation.
"It is a big concern for us. It is a social concern, it is a security concern. It is a concern and a threat that we are extremely worried about. We have said several times in the past that just like many other countries, the Maldives is also trying to find a way in which to deal with that," Ali said.
"There are no ready made answers. The countries that are much more powerful than the Maldives, that have far more sophisticated and advanced mechanisms to deal with such issues are still finding it difficult to grasp the situation and to respond adequately and the Maldives is no different," he said.
To meet the challenge posed by radicalisation and terror, the Foreign Secretary said the country was working with its international partners.
"We are working with our neighbours Sri Lanka and India and most importantly with India. We also work very closely with the UK and the US on this issue. Also with other countries including Indonesia, Malaysia and Turkey. Our police and intelligence work with them. We also work with Pakistan," he said.
Ali said the Maldives has taken a number of steps to counter the radicalisation threat, including concentrating on spreading awareness among the people.
He said religious leaders are trying to explain to the people that fighting for ISIS and terror groups is damaging for Islam.
The Foreign Secretary said the biggest challenge for the Maldives is to deal with "potential returnees" as some may head back to the country after getting training from terror groups in the Middle East.
Asked about jailed former Maldivian president Mohamed Nasheed, who has sought a two-month extension of his medical leave in the UK, Ali said the Maldives Democratic Party leader was a politician and has to decide the future action he will take.
Ali said he does not want to "speculate" on whether Nasheed will come back from the UK or not.
Talking about his discussions with Jaishankar, Ali said, "Both of us reviewed the progress of some of the projects, programmes and activities that were discussed and agreed in last September at the Joint Commission meeting. The implementation of those activities are going at a satisfactory speed."
With the SAARC ministerial meeting coming up this week, Ali said they also exchanged ideas on how to "reinvigorate" the grouping and accelerate cooperation.
Discussions also took place on how to meet the objectives of the organisation for making the lives of the South Asians more productive and happier.
Noting that the Maldives and India have enjoyed very strong and productive relationship over the last 50 years, Ali said, "We have very very strong relations with India."
"The Maldives and India have a very strong partnership in the democratisation programme that is taking place in the Maldives. We also discussed a number of programmes that are being developed currently in Maldives under Indian assistance," he added.
Asked if there was any discussion on Prime Minister Narendra Modi's much awaited visit to the country, Ali said, "The Maldives and the Maldivian government are always ready to welcome the Indian Prime Minister."
"We will roll out our red carpet. Whenever the Prime Minister's schedule allows him to visit the country. We understand that he has a very busy schedule. Whenever time is convenient for the Prime Minister, we will be welcoming the Prime Minister in the Maldives," the Foreign Secretary said.
Asked if there has been an understanding on a date for Modi's visit, he said, "I will not speculate on the Prime Minister's schedule.
Maldivian Foreign Secretary Ali Naseer Mohamed, who held talks with his Indian counterpart S Jaishankar over the weekend on a host of issues, said that discussions on setting up such a mechanism were ongoing.
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"The mechanism we are discussing with India is a bilateral one and our security and intelligence cooperation is mainly bilateral. It is a continuing discussion. The two countries are sharing ideas on how to make it operational. We have to work out the details," Ali told reporters here.
He asserted that the Maldives and India have a common interest in stopping radicalisation, counter-terrorism and addressing such issues.
Maldivian High Commissioner to India Ahmed Mohamed said, "There is a discussion between the Indian government and the Maldives on establishing a cross-border mechanism to address this issue and already the Maldives has institutionalised the process. We will be soon forming the mechanism."
Asked how many Maldivians are believed to have travelled to the Middle East to fight with the Islamic State and other terror groups, the Maldivian Foreign Secretary said the country's intelligence agencies estimate that the total number of those that have gone to the Middle East to engage in "illegal warfare" is less than 40.
Ali said the Maldives feels it is extremely vulnerable to the threat of radicalisation.
"It is a big concern for us. It is a social concern, it is a security concern. It is a concern and a threat that we are extremely worried about. We have said several times in the past that just like many other countries, the Maldives is also trying to find a way in which to deal with that," Ali said.
"There are no ready made answers. The countries that are much more powerful than the Maldives, that have far more sophisticated and advanced mechanisms to deal with such issues are still finding it difficult to grasp the situation and to respond adequately and the Maldives is no different," he said.
To meet the challenge posed by radicalisation and terror, the Foreign Secretary said the country was working with its international partners.
"We are working with our neighbours Sri Lanka and India and most importantly with India. We also work very closely with the UK and the US on this issue. Also with other countries including Indonesia, Malaysia and Turkey. Our police and intelligence work with them. We also work with Pakistan," he said.
Ali said the Maldives has taken a number of steps to counter the radicalisation threat, including concentrating on spreading awareness among the people.
He said religious leaders are trying to explain to the people that fighting for ISIS and terror groups is damaging for Islam.
The Foreign Secretary said the biggest challenge for the Maldives is to deal with "potential returnees" as some may head back to the country after getting training from terror groups in the Middle East.
Asked about jailed former Maldivian president Mohamed Nasheed, who has sought a two-month extension of his medical leave in the UK, Ali said the Maldives Democratic Party leader was a politician and has to decide the future action he will take.
Ali said he does not want to "speculate" on whether Nasheed will come back from the UK or not.
Talking about his discussions with Jaishankar, Ali said, "Both of us reviewed the progress of some of the projects, programmes and activities that were discussed and agreed in last September at the Joint Commission meeting. The implementation of those activities are going at a satisfactory speed."
With the SAARC ministerial meeting coming up this week, Ali said they also exchanged ideas on how to "reinvigorate" the grouping and accelerate cooperation.
Discussions also took place on how to meet the objectives of the organisation for making the lives of the South Asians more productive and happier.
Noting that the Maldives and India have enjoyed very strong and productive relationship over the last 50 years, Ali said, "We have very very strong relations with India."
"The Maldives and India have a very strong partnership in the democratisation programme that is taking place in the Maldives. We also discussed a number of programmes that are being developed currently in Maldives under Indian assistance," he added.
Asked if there was any discussion on Prime Minister Narendra Modi's much awaited visit to the country, Ali said, "The Maldives and the Maldivian government are always ready to welcome the Indian Prime Minister."
"We will roll out our red carpet. Whenever the Prime Minister's schedule allows him to visit the country. We understand that he has a very busy schedule. Whenever time is convenient for the Prime Minister, we will be welcoming the Prime Minister in the Maldives," the Foreign Secretary said.
Asked if there has been an understanding on a date for Modi's visit, he said, "I will not speculate on the Prime Minister's schedule.