• Source:JND
HighLights
  1. US national Matthew VanDyke arrested for training Myanmar EAGs.
  2. Revealed methods for recruiting locals for guerrilla warfare.
  3. Indian authorities investigate his unauthorized activities and network.

A US national accused of training Myanmar-based Ethnic Armed Groups (EAGs), known to support insurgent groups in India, who is currently in an investigator’s custody, had revealed how he managed to recruit locals, not a foreign terror group, to execute his mission. An old video has surfaced now, wherein American national Matthew Aaron VanDyke could be heard revealing his decade-old method of recruiting locals for war.

According to the charges, VanDyke had allegedly entered India from Myanmar via the Mizoram border before being intercepted at various domestic airports. He was arrested along with 6 Ukrainian nationals who were allegedly involved in the covert mission.

ALSO READ: Who Is Matthew VanDyke, US Mercenary Arrested Over Links With Anti-India Groups? Has Connections To Libya, Iraq War

How did VanDyke run training camps?

According to reports, VanDyke runs an organisation called Sons of Liberty International, which focuses on training fighters in conflict zones. According to him, his goal is not just to send foreign fighters into war zones, but to train local people so they can defend themselves and carry out military operations independently.

In videos and online messages, VanDyke has called on people from different countries to join conflicts in places like Myanmar, Venezuela, and Iran. He has tried to attract volunteers by promoting the idea of fighting for freedom and supporting resistance movements.

ALSO READ: NIA Arrests US National Matthew VanDyke, 6 Ukrainians Following Russian Tip Off

Revealing his past experiences, VanDyke asserted he was earlier involved in various conflicts in Middle East, where he claimed to trained fighters.

VanDyke has experience in war zones himself. He has previously been involved in conflicts in the Middle East and claims to have trained fighters. The recruited fighters were trained for guerrilla warfare, drone operations, and other modern combat techniques. His organisation also shares training materials online to help fighters learn tactics and strategies.

What Indian authorities say

Indian authorities have raised serious concerns about his activities. Investigators say VanDyke and his associates may have been involved in training armed groups without proper authorisation. There are also suspicions about possible links to banned or extremist organisations, though the investigation is still ongoing.

Officials are now trying to find out whether VanDyke is part of a larger international network that recruits and trains fighters across different countries. They are also examining his online communications, funding sources, and contacts to understand the full scale of his operations by investigating the digital footprints.

External Affairs Ministry spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal, in a regular press briefing, said that relevant agencies of the government are investigating the case.

(With inputs from PTI)


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