The Maldives is hosting a second round of talks between Afghan lawmakers and “groups opposed to the Afghan government.”
Press Secretary at the President’s Office, Mohamed Zuhair, confirmed the talks were taking place and said the Maldives government had “no involvement”.
“We cannot disclose the location of the talks, although we can confirm that they are not being held in Male’ or other population centres,” he said.
In late January Al Jazeera reported that a group of seven men allied with the Taliban had met in the Maldives on January 22 to discuss an ambitious plan to bring peace to the war-torn country by offering cash, jobs and incentives to Taliban fighters in exchange for laying down their arms. Taliban fighters are reportedly paid US$10 a day, a considerable sum in an embattled country with 40 percent unemployment.
One of the Taliban’s representatives told Al Jazeera the Maldives was chosen as a venue for the talks because “we feel safe.”
Photos of the meeting at Bandos Island Resort and Spa were later leaked to the press.
A spokesman for Afghanistan’s President Hamid Karzai, Siyamak Herawi, later told news agency Reuters the visiting group included “Hekmatyar loyalists along with some former Taliban members who are now sitting in the parliament. It happened in January in the Maldives and they decided to hold more talks,” he said.
Gulbuddin Hekmatyar is an Afghan Mujahideen leader who was the country’s prime minister from 1993-1994, and is considered by the US to be one of the three main leaders of the Afghan insurgency. He was a key figure in the insurgency against Soviet occupation, reportedly receiving millions in CIA funding, but is now labelled as a ‘Specially Designated Global Terrorist’ by the US.
The last secret meeting in the Maldives coincided with the International Conference on Afghanistan, held in Lancaster House in London on January 28, where discussions revolved around a national council for peace, reconciliation and reintegration to be set up by the Afghan government.
The programme was to channel development funds towards luring fighters away from the insurgency into alternative livelihoods, with US$140 million in international funding earmarked for the first year.
While many elements of the Maldivian government were oblivious to the first meeting, Zuhair said this time “Maldivian security and intelligence agencies have been fully informed of the talks.”
“All the representatives involved in the talks are holding valid passports and visas. None of the representatives involved are listed in UN or other international travel blacklists,” he said.
“Afghanistan’s stability affects the peace and security of our region. The Government of the Maldives supports efforts to bring a resolution to the conflict in Afghanistan,” Zuhair said.
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we should try and help bring peace to that war-torn country. Otherwise, terrorism will always be there
glad government seem to know what they are doing this time
Thoddu Ali Waheed will be very angry by such action .... call the gaumee salaamathaa behey committee to intervene and chase the Peace talkers away from our Paradise Nation. We fear that these poppy growers may introduce narcotics to our Male' streets. "Mee magey ufan bimey ..."
Qaumeee party must write to foreign ministry & finance ministry and find out how many people coming, where they are staying and if government is absorbing any of the expenses. If this information is not provided they must go to the court. Ali Waheed and Umar Naseer must organise a rally to chase them away. Adaalath must clarify if the agenda for the meeting is written in dhivehi and must ensure all of the participants are muslims. Qasim must come in at the last minute and support one of these parties. Dr. Waheed must give a press conference that he was not informed of this and that even Hamid Karzai did not bother to share this with him.
If there is a positive result coming out of these meetings i would be glad so will the rest of us be. But the article also gives a scary point as quoted below.
"Gulbuddin Hekmatyar is an Afghan Mujahideen leader who was the country’s prime minister from 1993-1994, and is considered by the US to be one of the three main leaders of the Afghan insurgency. He was a key figure in the insurgency against Soviet occupation, reportedly receiving millions in CIA funding, but is now labelled as a ‘Specially Designated Global Terrorist’ by the US.
So where is Maldives heading is something we have to question our selves. Will Maldives be paradise for tourists or terrorists.
What has become to Maldives, one day we hear about bringing GITMO detainees, the next day we hear the terrorist oganisation Taleban to have peace talks in Maldives, at this rate Usmaba Bin Laden will plan his next attack in Maldives as well..... WTF
We should salute the government on these diplomatic achievements.
Maldives is the new Switzerland, if not economically, but diplomatically.
1. Extremism is catching up in Maldives. With help from the Governments Islamic Ministry
2. We are bringing down alleged international terrorists to live with us
3. We are introducing Taliban into our tourism industry
whats next?
Oh we have intelligence agencies? they should be looking for intelligent life in this land
I think Osama Bin Laden will be offered a training island in return for sewerage system for couple of islands....
For more than 3 decades state media and tour operators/resort owners have aggressively marketed Maldives as Paradise on Earth for tourists. It was only recently, the international community realised the status of the natives, actually living in this tropical heaven preferred by the twenty-first century glitterati, and ordinary travelers alike.
Having transformed from a closed kingdom in the Indian Ocean to an open democracy, Maldives is now under a lot of scrutiny by a lot of people. For all sorts of reasons, I must add.
The strategic position of Maldives, as it was during the Silk Route days have recently been amplified in a way that was not during the past 30 year rule of the Gayoom regime.Regional and global powers are realising now, the importance of these islands from a geo-political perspective.
The reef system and the geography also provide a certain kind of safe environment that is at once peaceful and serene, close to the earth.
What better place is there in South Asia for people to come and unwind themselves? Yes, Maldives is an ideal location that can be utilised as an incubator to promote peace and harmony. Have we not lived long enough in a world without mutual respect and trust? Is it not time to use our God given facilities to foster understanding and prosperity?
Maldives is not just for tourists....it can be the place even for those facing unhappiness and discord in their ordinary lives, and need a safe haven to resolve their own problems.
Cheers!
It is quite disturbing when political parties, newly formed and learning the basics of free expression and free assembly, distort facts and fail to see the wider picture from a national perspective.
Anni is doing a great job. While others are trying to score political points against each other.
I rather have an un-convicted innocent Gitmo prisoner living next door to me compared to a convicted gang Maldivian gang member who is constantly released by Maldivian corrupt judges.
Thank god Nasheed and Kuda Sappe are in government now, otherwise they will make pamphlets and banners on these events on next ITB fair in Berlin " Taliban in Paradise". This is exactly they did in the past with their friends of Maldives in UK.
Valid passports - good
Paid for accommodation - good
Paid for conference room - good
Not listed on any blacklists - good
Our constitution doesn't restrict people to travel to Maldives to hold conferences while being tourists...
Nothing wrong... its peace talks after all... cheers
Maldives over the past so many decades have persued a policy of non alignment which resulted in our small nation being accepted as a responsible member of the international community.Now either knowingly or unknowingly we are being drawn into the area of influence of western powers,whose philosophy and political outlook are completely alien to us.We are facing a crisis of a clash of philosophy,civilzation,religion and other belief systems.We are dancing to the tunes of America,UK and India.Our independence in carrying out our own foreign policy is in question. Three former Presidents of Maldives, during their terms of office maintained our independence and did not fall into any other nations'machanizations.Now this policy of maintaining a non aligned policy is in question.It is rather sad to see the Maldives getting involved in affairs that are not an immediate concern to us.By allowing talks between various Afghan groups to take place here in the Maldives we are inviting trouble in the future. Some of the members taking part in these talks are not able to visit Afghanistan as they will be arrested on arrival. This means they are either involved in terrorist activity or other criminal matters.And allowing Gitmo detainees to settle in the Maldives, too, is unwise, ill concieved and irrational.For the want of a Few Dollars More we are making a terrible msitake.
The thing is we nominated an off beam person, at a wrong position at an incorrect moment!! this chap anni ought to be the President of USA, and ended up in a wrong place, that... See More’s the rationale, why he’s constantly wandering more or less on global issue’s with the objective of captivating Noble Peace price, but what this chap doesn’t realize is that he’s ruining his representation in his own nation state, plus public has lost confidence in him as well all politicians due to this guys show with all activists around him in governments top management, in past 1 and half years.. These MDP guys wakes up after only a protests, it's always reactive, now that the flat issue .... sad but true
The only way to measure the results of these so called "Peace Talk" or "safe Heaven" will be when we ordinary people travel. If we get delays at immigrations or you are moved from one desk to another.....then we will begin to realize the price of what our government is doing today. If Maldivian Passport Holders can walk thru security checks & immigrations free as it is today I will really appreciate for what govt has done.
I agree with Radhun. The world isn't some utopia where actions don't have consequences. I can already imagine someone from another country reviewing their immigration lists; "hmm Maldives, nice country, wait, Taliban talks? Jihadists sent to train in Pakistan? Growing extremism? Haven for GITMO prisoners? That can't be good!".
In reality being such a small and insignificant country, I doubt they would investigate the matter much further. I'm not saying that will happen; just saying that we're giving ourselves the perfect "extremist nation" background for when some Maldivian idiot finally does commit an act of major international terrorism. It's scary, but people already have, and there are many wishing they could.
“All the representatives involved in the talks are holding valid passports and visas. None of the representatives involved are listed in UN or other international travel blacklists,”
My senses doesnt agree to the Press secretary's statement. Having a valid passport & social visit visa for a holiday doesnt qualify them to organised such kind sentive meetings in a foreign country. We have so many immigration loop holes and one good example is a foreign labourer can simply marry a local while he is still under work permit. Im not saying a Bangladeshi marrying a Maldivian is wrong but there should certain rstrictions and principles for doing so.
ANnni isthiufaa...Thalibaan isthiufaaa.....Anni ves afghanistanah thliban aah ekey fonuvaala..
President's Press secretary confirms that there is 'no involvement' of Maldivian government, but Maldivian Security and intelligence agencies have been fully informed. How does this make sense? My small brain fails to understand.
I think this country is going to pay the price for being a puppet of the US and trying to act too big for a country its size.
Hey Radhun and Hani..Talk sense..How on earth can we stop them from coming here as long as they have valid documents, booked the resort and conference facility and paid for it. Whether you know or not , its been quite while since the Russian Mafia and many such groups have their annual gatherings in Maldives. So what???
Have we run out of space in the rest of the south asian region countries that Maldives was chosen as the venue for these talks? Whose next to come here for peace talks? India and Pakistan for Kashmir? Israel and Palestine with Hamas? I hope something good happens after all this lavish trips of these people to the Maldivian resorts.
I agree with Radhun. The world isn't some utopia where actions don't have consequences. I can already imagine someone from another country reviewing their immigration lists; "hmm Maldives, nice country, wait, Taliban talks? Jihadists sent to train in Pakistan? Growing extremism? Haven for GITMO prisoners? That can't be good!".
In reality being such a small and insignificant country, I doubt they would investigate the matter much further. I'm not saying that will happen; just saying that we're giving ourselves the perfect "extremist nation" background for when some Maldivian idiot finally does commit an act of major international terrorism. It's scary, but people already have, and there are many wishing they could.
Beyya I cant help it you being so narrow minded. Probably you will get the same feelings when you get delayed at immigrations no sooner or later.