Maldives National Defense Force (MNDF) will never give employment opportunities for extremists, says Chief of Defense Force, Major General Abdulla Shamaal.

During the panel discussion at Monday’s “Viavathi Raajje” conference session held with local councils to discuss efforts against extremist ideologies, Shamaal noted that the government’s stand against extremism is “very clear”.

Highlighting that the defense force is currently training for “anything that may happen”, Shamaal said that no one with extremist ideologies will be given the opportunity to work in the defense force, not even the slightest.

Further, Shamaal added that the defense sector will be further enhanced with the government’s efforts to curb extremism, which in turn guarantees national peace and security.

The panel discussion revolving around curbing extremism was chaired by Minister of Defense and National Security Mariya Ahmed Didi and was joined by Commissioner of Police Mohamed Hameed, Attorney General Ibrahim Riffath as well as Minister of Home Affairs Sheikh Imran Abdulla.

Police Commissioner Hameed had revealed that there are about 1,400 extremists in the Maldives, “willing to take a life”.