New Delhi: Against the backdrop of reports
that Pakistan-based Lashkar-e-Taiba is eyeing isolated islands
in Maldives, India will soon ink an agreement with the
southern neighbour to combat terror threats jointly.
A Memorandum of Understanding on cooperation on
anti-terror measures and information sharing will be signed by
the two countries by April, an official said.
Maldives` Minister of Home Affairs Mohamed Shihab today
had a nearly an hour-long meeting with Home Minister P
Chidambaram and decided to carry forward their cooperation
on security matters to the next level.
The move by India and Maldives to address threats
emanating from terror groups like LeT bears significance in
view of reports that Lashkar has been trying to make Maldives
a hub due to its geographical advantage, isolated and sparsely
populated islands.
"About 7,00,000 tourists visit Maldives every year and so
the island nation does not want to take any chance on security
issues, hence the cooperation with India," the official said.
PTI
