Maldivians fighting and dying in Pakistan, says president

President Mohamed Nasheed said yesterday that at least 12 Maldivians had died in the war being waged in Waziristan – the religious conservative region of Pakistan.

Nasheed said most parents were unaware that those who died had left to fight in Pakistan, believing that they had travelled abroad for higher education.

“When our youth, who go abroad for education, die, in my view that is something we have to think about deeply. We have learned that about 100 Maldivians or at least close to 100 are active right now in Waziristan or the disputed region between Pakistan and Afghanistan,” he said.

Speaking in his weekly radio address, the president said the government had learned that the number of Maldivians who had received training to participate in the war was higher than 100, adding there were currently around a dozen Maldivians in jail in Pakistan.

In April, nine Maldivians were arrested carrying arms near the Pakistani-Afghan border. The news came two weeks after three Maldivians were arrested for illegally entering Waziristan.

In an interview with CNN-IBN during his five-day trip to India last week, Nasheed said that hundreds of Maldivians were being recruited by the Taliban.

The president’s comments sparked disapproval with critics arguing the figures were inflated and would adversely impact the tourism industry.

In a press release issued on Thursday, the Maldivian Students Organisation in Pakistan further condemned his remarks as irresponsible.

The statement noted that most students travelled to Pakistan for higher education, adding the president’s comments would endanger Maldivian students at a time when the Pakistani government was fighting the Taliban in Waziristan.

But during his radio address, Nasheed said the government had decided it was best to share the information with the public to alert them of the dangers of extremism.

“In the view of some people…when we don’t talk about these things we are safe from it or we have taken safety measures against it,” he said.

“I am not saying these things without knowing the connection it has or might have to tourism or other economic activities. In my view, when these things get out of hand and reach the final stage, there will be nothing we can do about it.”

Nasheed said the government was aware of people in the Maldives who had been trained in Pakistan, but he did not think they should be arrested unless absolutely necessary.

He added that while the government was certain there was no threat to the country at the present time, the Maldives needed international assistance to help combat terrorism.

“This is not something connected to the Maldives alone, it is an international matter,” he said, adding the Maldives had assistance from the Indian, US, British and Pakistani governments.

The president urged parents to be cautious about sending their children to religious educational institutions in Pakistan and India.

In an interview with Minivan News last week, Mohamed Zuhair, president’s office press secretary, said the lack of educational opportunities in the Maldives meant that many Maldivians travelled to Pakistan for a free education at one of its many madrassas.

The president said there were many cases where students were recruited in Pakistani universities. “Or they were deceived and taken from different kinds of military training, brainwashed, sent to war and killed.”
-Minivan News-