India, Maldives step up anti-piracy drive

India and the Maldives have decided to stepup anti-piracy and marine counter-terrorism operations in the Indian Ocean. Underlining the importance of greater maritime surveillance in the Indian Ocean, Maldives President Mohamed Nasheed, on Thursday said the Mumbai attacks have “all the footprints of a 16th century piracy activity in the Indian Ocean”.

The Mumbai terror attacks and enhanced security cooperation in the Indian Ocean figured prominently in discussions between Prime minister Manmohan Singh and Nasheed on Wednesday

Before departing for Male on Thursday, Nasheed in response to a question about his country’s perception of the Mumbai terror attacks said, “It (the Mumbai terror attack) came from Karachi via the sea. We would like countries to remain vigilant in the Indian Ocean, specially in view of the Mumbai attacks.”

Maldive’s first democratically elected president in three decades said, “We are a nation of sea-farers. We understand the topography of the Indian Ocean. We are very concerned about it.” While underscoring the importance of greater security cooperation between India and the Maldives in the Indian Ocean, the visiting leader said that, “There are pirate activities. We would like the Indian Ocean a peaceful one.”

With the Mumbai attacks as a backdrop, the two countries plan to intensify interaction between their coast guards, Nasheed said. Adding, “Joint exercises are now held every two years. It will be more frequent now.” “Pirates could be recruited into terrorist cells. You have sealed your borders (with Pakistan), but you have pushed terrorists to the Indian Ocean,” he said.

Source: www.financialexpress.com