Maldives’ political unrest, leading to its first democratically elected president in decades Mohamed Nasheed’s resignation, is a security alarm for India.

Experts feel the Sunni-dominated island nation Maldives can be a fertile ground for jehadist recruitment for the already radicalised youth, as the country which graduated from autocratic rule to democracy doesn’t seem to be willing to make changes for religious pluralism. Nasheed’s resignation has further dented that transition.

“Maldives can be a Talibanised version of a Sunni state,” said senior fellow Alok Bansal at CLAWS (Centre for Land and Warfare Studies).

Maldives has been coming under the influence of a Salafi-Jihadi ideology which is increasingly gaining currency among Maldivians, especially the youth. The country recently ordered shut down on spas and heath clubs.

Radical political parties such as the Adhalaat Party are clamouring for Sharia to be implemented. Adhalaat, which is sympathetic to the Taliban, also controls the nation’s Ministry of Islamic Affairs.

India said it would refrain from intervening in the “internal matter” of the country. But the developments in the neighbourhood are sure to keep New Delhi on the alert mode.

India enjoys diplomatic clout in the country and has strong stakes in its security. In 1988 India foiled a coup on the island by sending a battalion of soldiers (Operation Cactus) to back the Government.

However, official sources differentiated the current situation from the developments of 1988 when Maldives had sought help from New Delhi in the face of “extraneous” powers trying to force a regime change. There are about 30,000 Indians there and sources said Indian expatriate community there is safe.