Maldivian youths waging 'jihad' in Pakistan: VP Hassan

E T B Sivapriyan

New Delhi, Feb 21 (PTI) Maldives on Sunday said some
youths from the country are being recruited by militant
outfits based in Pakistan and Afghanistan to wage 'jihad' and
sought India's cooperation in preventing "any passage" for
these people through the country.
Maldivian vice president Mohammaed Waheed Hassan, who
is on a visit here, said an increasing number of youths from
his country have started "embracing a version of Islam which
is more strict than the traditional Islamic values.
"Some of these people are going to Pakistan and
Afghanistan and are waging jihad. We want these people back...
We need them for our development," Hassan told PTI.
He said Maldives wants India's cooperation in
preventing "any passage for these youngsters" through it.
"These are students and it is very easy for them to
say they are going to puruse education and then...," he said,
in an obvious reference to such youths.
"India has been cooperating with Maldives in all
spheres. We need India's cooperation in this regard. India
will understand our situation better," he said. "We don't have
any particular instance (example), but India will understand."
However, Hassan did not elaborate what kind of
cooperation or assistance his country needs from New Delhi on
the issue.
He said one of the challenges being faced by the
democratic government of Maldives is the attempt to create
confusion within Islam over extremism.

The vice-president said Maldives had already taken up
the issue with Pakistan Government and was taking steps to
bring these people back home.
"Pakistan Government is working with us. We have
sought their cooperation and they are cooperating with us. We
want these people back for our development," Hassan said.
His remarks come months after Maldivian President
Mohamed Nasheed said some Maldivians were being "radicalised"
and recruited by the Taliban in Pakistan and Afghanistan to
fight the government and coalition forces.
The vice president said Maldives needs young educated
youths for its progress and in no way it can import labour
for developing infrastructure and other things in the country.
"We need these youth for our development. We need
their services," he said.
On climate change, Hassan said Maldives wants India's
assistance in accessing new technologies and data-gathering to
tackle climate change, which threatens to submerge the tiny
island.
"We also need India's cooperation in renewable and new
energy resources," he said. PTI ETB