NEW DELHI: The security establishment is tracking 18 Indian citizens who have travelled to Iraq and Syria to fight as jihadis. As sectarian violence intensifies in these countries, India, along with other nations, is trying to track and prevent its citizens from joining this war.These aspiring jihadis didn’t come from any extremist group, say intelligence sources, but were individually radicalized. Of the 18 under the scanner, Indian officials found that the jihadi ardour of six men had diminished considerably after they found they were being treated shabbily by their leaders. They later left Iraq and now live in other Gulf nations. The others remain in Iraq.The lure of jihad is been fuelled by YouTube videos — often shot and uploaded by western extremists. In addition, small terror outfits that have popped up are doubling up as recruiters for jihad. Western media reports say there may be about 2,000 people from Europe and the US who have travelled to West Asia to be part of what they consider a holy war. The chance of their subsequent return to their home countries is a major source of concern for the governments, it was discussed at the meeting between French foreign minister Laurent Fabius and Prime Minister Narendra Modi UK officials say they are aware of more than 200 people who have gone to Syria from the UK and the number could be much higher. At least 45 people from Denmark have flown to Syria since 2012. According to the French interior ministry, 110 people from France are believed to be currently fighting in Syria. Dozens have returned from combat to France and a couple of recent attacks at a Jewish museum in Paris have been credited to them.India is trying to track and prevent its citizens from joining the militants. (Reuters photo)German authorities say 210 suspected Islamic extremists have left to fight in West Asia, while about 50 have come back. Thirty Swedish nationals have joined jihadi groups in Syria and Iraq.