India Maldives Bilateral Relations

Introductory Notes:

• Bilateral relations between India and Maldives have been friendly and close in strategic, economic and military cooperation.
  
• India contributed to maintaining security on the island nation and has forged an alliance with respect to its strategic interests in the Indian Ocean.
  
• Both nations established diplomatic relations after the independence of Maldives from British rule in 1966.
  
• Maldives was one of the first countries to convey its support for the candidature of Indian fellow as the Commonwealth Secretary General. Maldives also co-sponsored the G-4 draft resolutions on UN reforms.
  
• India has extended support to Maldives candidature for a non-permanent seat in the UN Security Council for the term 2019-20.
  

Bilateral Assistance:

• Wherever possible, India has been offering assistance to Maldives in its developmental process. Major of them are – Indira Gandhi Memorial Hospital: (IGMH), Maldives Institute of Technical Education (MITE) etc.
  
• Following the tsunami waves that hit Maldives on 2004, India was the first country to rush relief and aid to the Maldives.
  

Bilateral Trade

• India and Maldives signed a trade agreement in 1981, which provides for export of essential commodities. Bilateral trade is not commensurate with their potential.
  

Indian Investment

• The State Bank of India has been playing a vital role in the economic development of the Maldives since February, 1974 by providing loan assistance for promotion of island resorts, export of marine products and business enterprises.
  

Cultural

• Both the countries share long cultural links and continuous efforts are underway to further strengthen these links. Recently three historical mosques in Maldives were successfully restored by Indian experts from NRLCCP, Lucknow (Friday Mosque, Male’, Fenfushi Mosque in South Ari Atoll and the Dharumavantha Rasgefaanu Mosque in Male’).
  

Indian Community in Maldives

• Indians are the second largest expatriate community in the Maldives with a total strength of around 28000. The Indian expatriate community consists of doctors, nurses and technicians, teachers, construction workers, tailors, etc. spread all over the country. Of the country’s approximately 400 doctors, over 125 are Indians. Similarly around 25% of teachers in Maldives are Indians, mostly at middle and senior levels.
  

Current Issues: Radicalism in Maldives and India-Maldives Cooperation in Counter Terrorism

India’s defense Minister A. K. Antony recently completed a three day visit to Malé. During the visit, India and Maldives have agreed to work together to ensure that “the stability in the region is maintained; and above all… threats, particularly from terrorist groups and other non-state actors, are eliminated“.

• It’s worth note that Maldives despite being a 100% Sunni nation was not much affected by the rise of Islamic Radicalism until recent past. In last few years, Maldivians in increasing numbers have been drawn towards the Pakistan-based madrasas and jihadist groups.
  
• The Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT), through its charitable front organisation in the atoll – Idara Khidmat-e-Khalq – has established a foothold in the southern parts of Maldives, under the guise of providing relief operations after the 2004 tsunami
  
• At any point of time, many Maldivian nationals are studying in Pakistani madrasas which are controlled by various jihadist groups. There are several enrolled in Saudi Arabian madrasas as well, who, on their return, bring back not only the virus of radical ideas, but they also have increased opportunities to become part of jihadist networks. These madrasa-educated Maldivian nationals are encouraged to fight the jihad in places like Afghanistan, Iraq and Chechnya. They also help in the direct recruitment of Maldivian citizens for jihad.
  
• A terrorist, Ali Jaleel, who was involved in 27 May 2009 suicide attack on the ISI headquarters in Lahore, was a Maldivian national.
  

In recent times, Jamaat-ul-Muslimeen, a new Maldives-based terror group, having links with the LeT was the mastermind of an attack in Male in 2007. India is also worried from the infiltration of Indian terror group Students Islamic Movement of India (SIMI) to Maldives, especially after its crackdown in India.

The previous government of Mohammed Nasheed resorted to some measures to tone down the radicalisation through regulating local madrasas and seminaries. Being a 100 percent Sunni Muslim country with a population of about 380,000, Maldives is a suitable heaven for LET jihadists. It is made up of 1192 small islands, so hiding and anonymity is not an issue. The island-state is also not too far from India’s southern coast making it an ideal launch pad for attacks through sea. The LeT has plans to use the Maldivian islands as storehouses for weapons and explosives and use them as a launch pad against attack on India.

The significance of Bilateral Cooperation

Counter-terrorism cooperation between India and Maldives is thus, significant for the security of the region. The existence of any terror bases or breeding grounds for terrorism in the Indian neighbourhood would be a threat to Indian security. The need for structured counter-terrorism cooperation between the two maritime neighbours is the need of the hour. Such cooperation between India and Maldives could include counter-terrorism training and capacity building, handing over of fugitives, sharing of intelligence, investigative assistance, joint-patrolling and maritime security.