New Delhi: The future threat from the Islamic State (ISIS) to the Indian sub-continent could be from Maldives rather than Bangladesh, according to a classified report sent by the Intelligence Bureau to multiple agencies recently.
The report, details of which have been accessed by this newspaper, said ISIS may have as many as 500 sympathisers in the Maldives in addition to those who are suspected to have joined the terror outfit in Syria and Iraq.
“ISIS has been successfully using the internet and social media in influencing youths in the island nation and is determined to expand its network further,” the report stated and added that that in Bangladesh it was the Jamaeytul Mujahideen Bangladesh, blamed for last week’s terror attack, that was increasing its influence rather than the ISIS. The intelligence inputs are in line with the investigations carried out by security agencies in Bangladesh.
ISIS claimed credit to increase footprint
The Intelligence inputs are in line with the investigations carried out by security agencies in Bangladesh which indicate that the attack an upmarket restaurant in Dhaka may actually have been carried out by the JMB and not the ISIS though the latter claimed credit for it in an effort to increase its footprint in the region.
Counter terror officials who are closely tracking activities of ISIS not just in the country but the entire sub-continent feel that this trend of the terror group targeting the entire region will only increase in the days.
According to the Intelligence note though ISIS may have sympathisers among youth in Maldives it has not yet been able to establish presence or form a formidable network yet to carry out any major subversive activities.
It is suspected that though those involved in the Dhaka terror attack were influenced by ISIS, they belonged to the JMB and the entire attack was executed by it rather than the Islamic State.
Sources said Indian agencies too are closely monitoring attempts by ISIS to get a presence in the country. Indian intelligence agencies have been working closely with their counterparts in Maldives on the issue ISIS trying to increase its influence in the sub-continent.
