Thai embassy: No hard evidence linking our nationals to IS

in response to NST’s exclusive news report, “Bomb makers among 23 IS militants held”, on Feb 9.

The report had quoted Federal police Counter-Terrorism Division assistant director Datuk Ayob Khan Mydin Pitchay as saying that the Islamic State suspects from Kelantan received training in Thailand and had close links with Thai IS networks.

Subsequently, the report has been shared via social media numerous times and re-emerged in several newspapers and news portals worldwide, including in Thailand.

I wish to underscore the fact that Thai security agencies have reaffirmed their verification that there is no hard evidence substantiating or indicating any links between Thai citizens and IS, or any international terrorist groups.

No Thais have travelled to fight in Iraq and Syria.

It is important to emphasise that the Thai and Malaysian governments share a common concern about the threat of international terrorism and extremism in the region.

Our two leaders agree to strengthen efforts in border management and intensify cooperation on intelligence-sharing for the benefit of both sides in monitoring, preventing and countering terrorism and extremism in the region.