Coordinating Political, Legal and Security Affairs Minister Mahfud MD has said that over 6,000 Indonesian citizens have been identified as foreign terrorist fighters (FTFs).

“In Syria only, there are 187 [Indonesian citizens]. More than 6,000 of our citizens abroad have been identified as terrorists,” Mahfud said in Jakarta on Friday, kompas.com reported.

“We must bring a lot of them back to Indonesia.”

Mahfud said the government had been concerned about the FTF issue, including the challenge of bringing them back without posing threats to national security.

To enhance counterterrorism efforts, Indonesia hopes to cooperate with Japan.

Japan Counterterrorism Agency director general Shigenobu Fukumoto visited Mahfud on Friday to discuss counterterrorism measures for the two nations.

Mahfud said the cooperation would likely include deradicalization efforts.

“There are many things that we would cooperate on. There would also be a joint team established to discuss terrorism and regional security,” Mahfud said. (sau)