Minister of Homeland Security and Technology, Ali Ihusan, has stated that the Islamic Military Counter Terrorism Coalition (IMCTC) presents an important opportunity to further strengthen the Maldives’ fight against terrorism.
The Minister made the statement while speaking at the inauguration of two anti-terrorism training programmes conducted by IMCTC.
In his address, the Minister expressed appreciation to the IMCTC for its continued assistance to the Maldives. He described Saudi Arabia’s initiative to establish the coalition as a significant step forward towards enhancing cooperation among Islamic nations. He further noted that the Maldives is working with the IMCTC because it recognises that the threat of terrorism cannot be addressed by any one country alone.
The Minister also highlighted the efforts being made by IMCTC to develop the Maldives’ Human Resources, and noted that the two programmes being conducted in partnership with the organisation are of importance to the Maldives.
"We are proud to have Maldivian officers working at the IMCTC Counter Terrorism Center in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. They are gaining valuable experience and participating in an international effort on behalf of the country. This has greatly enhanced our counter-terrorism analysis and operational capacity, and increased regional participation,” the Minister said.
The two programmes currently underway in the Maldives include cyber security training and a military training programme aimed at strengthening operational capability.