Review by Niraj Kumar ( August 08, 2010): The world has changed a lot since September 11, 2001. A new government under the leadership of Hamid Karzai is ruling Afghanistan, which was earlier ruled by the Taliban and acted as a haven for Al-Qaeda. Iraq is under US control, and Libya has agreed to mend its ways.
The Maldivian government has engaged in an effort to restrain radicalized youths from joining jihadists groups in Syria and Iraq. Despite these efforts, the total number of Maldivians fighting in the Syrian civil war has reached 61. According to the island nation’s National Counter Terrorism Center (NCTC), over 68 people have been intercepted and captured on their way to Syria and Iraq (Raajje News, January 15).
Of late, al-Qaeda’s South Asia branch has been proactive and forceful in its campaign against India and its neighbors. A “code of conduct,” released by the group in June 2017, signaled an expanded geographical scope by including Afghanistan and Myanmar into its supposed domain of influence and operation, adding to its core focus on India, Pakistan and Bangladesh.
The Maldives-Syria Connection: Jihad in Paradise?ANIMESH ROUL, Terrorism Monitor, Volume: 12 Issue: 22, November 21, 2014
"Low Lying Threat: Risk from domestic radicals rises in the Maldives."Jane's Intelligence Review, October 2014The Maldives is experiencing a growing undercurrent of Islamist extremism. Animesh Roul examines this trend and the domestic risk posed by Maldivian youths travelling to fight alongside Islamist groups in jihadist theatres such as Syria.