Maldivians among Islamic State fighters caught in Afghanistan
More than 600 IS fighters surrendered to Afghan forces.
20 Nov 2019, 9:00 AM
Maldivians are among more than 600 fighters from the terrorist organisation Islamic State who surrendered with their families to the Afghanistan’s government in recent weeks, according to media reports.
Afghan security forces have “obliterated” IS in the country, President Ashraf Ghani declared on Tuesday. Militants in custody reportedly include foreign fighters from Pakistan, Tajikistan, Uzbekistan, Iran, Azerbaijan, Kazakhstan and the Maldives.
The Pajhwok Afghan News reported on Tuesday that Maldivians were among 243 fighters taken into custody in the eastern Nangarhar province that borders Pakistan.
It emerged in a documentary aired by Al Jazeera last month that Turkey blacklisted 134 Maldivians and deported 25 people who were suspected of planning to join terrorist organisations in Syria. The previous administration downplayed the issue and gave lower numbers but about 200 to 250 Maldivians are estimated to have joined militant groups in Syria and Iraq. Many fighters died in battle and widowed women are seeking to return to the Maldives.
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