US imposes curbs on 20 Al-Qaeda and ISIS terrorists in Maldives

In a decisive action against terrorists in India's southern neighbourhood, the US has imposed sanctions on 20 individuals and 29 companies in the Maldives that are linked to terror groups ISIS, ISIS-Khorasan (ISIS-K) and Al-Qaeda.

According to a US State Department readout, 18 of these individuals are ISIS and ISIS-K facilitators while two are Al-Qaeda operatives.

The sanctions prohibit dealings with them and the companies associated with them including entry into the US, according to the readout.


The development comes ahead of presidential polls in the Maldives in early September with incumbent Ibu Solih, a close ally of India, seeking a second term.

New Delhi has been closely monitoring a growing network of radicals in the Maldives that has security implications for southern India and Sri Lanka. The Maldives-based radicals are financed by drug cartels in the southern Indian Ocean Region and are allegedly linked with Pakistan's ISI and Pakistan-based terror groups, explained a source speaking on the condition of anonymity.

In a statement on Monday, State Department spokesman, Matthew Miller said individuals designated include leaders and members of Maldives-based terrorist cells and an affiliated criminal gang, in addition to individuals and a company associated with a key ISIS-K recruiter, Mohamad Ameen, who was designated by the US in 2019.