Author: TNN
Publication: The Times of India
Date: February 4, 2010
URL: http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/india/India-edgy-as-LeT-eyes-Maldives-base/articleshow/5532882.cms
Amid serious concerns that Pakistan-based
terror group Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT) has been trying to set up base in isolated
islands in Maldives, India has quickened efforts for a counterterror partnership
with the southern
neighbour.
After a meeting between home minister P Chidambaram
and his visiting counterpart from Maldives, Mohammad Shihab, sources in the
home ministry said the two sides have agreed to wrap up an agreement on anti-terror
measures and information sharing by April.
The urgency comes against the backdrop of growing evidence of the success
of Lashkar and other jehadi groups in expanding their influence in the predominantly
Muslim country - sections of which have become increasingly radicalised over
the past few years. Indian intelligence agencies have noted with concern the
sharp increase in the number of visitors from Maldives to Pakistan, where
they spend a lot of time travelling around the country for purposes which
are unclear but suspicious to agencies here.
A small country, Maldives remains acutely
vulnerable to determined terror groups, as a small band of mercenaries, just
60 in number, drawn from among Tamil insurgents belonging to PLOTE from Sri
Lanka, demonstrated in 1988 when they overran the country. But for a swift
response of the Rajiv Gandhi government to the SOS from Maumoon Abdul Gayoom,
the hired guns would have installed Abdulla Luthufi as prime minister.
Indian paratroopers and naval warships were
rushed under `Operation Cactus' to thwart the coup attempt.
Maldives presents a tempting target for Lashkar and other jehadi groups which
have been trying to make it a hub due to its geographical advantage, isolated
and sparsely populated islands. "About 700,000 tourists visit Maldives
every year and so the island nation does not want to take any chance on security
issues, hence the cooperation with India," said an official.
India is already helping Maldives by regularly
patrolling its territorial waters with both warships and reconnaissance aircraft.
There is also a plan underway to set up a network of ground radars in all
its 26 atolls.
What is also worrying the government here
is the effort of Pakistan-based terror groups to recruit jehadis from Maldives.
Sabahuddin, one of the two Indian nationals arrested in connection with the
26/11 attack on Mumbai, told his interrogators that they had got Ali Ahsham
to do the recee on targets in Bangalore in the run-up to the attack on the
Indian Institute of Science.
Both the countries are understood to have
decided to carry forward their cooperation on security matters to the next
level.
