According to intelligence sources, Maldives is not only a hub of Islamic State (IS) operatives but also of Pakistan-based terror groups and narcotics smugglers as well, news18.com reports on January 9. Sources stated that a Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT) base was also identified in Maldives in the past. The Maldives is facing a major problem from radical Islamic fundamentalists who are funding the local governments with the involvement of some big business houses. These business houses have been drawn towards China’s Ministry of State Security (MSS) and Pakistan’s Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI), the sources said. Sources said that many Lashkar leaders have settled in the Maldives to expand their global activities. Key Islamic State-Khorasan Province (ISKP) operative Umar Nisar Bhat alias Qasim Khorasani who was arrested in 2021 by agencies said in his confession that he was in regular touch with the Bangladesh and Maldives-based Islamic Ameer (chief), and he could have used that to expand terrorist propaganda networks.