An American named Matthew VanDyke has been arrested in India amid allegations of involvement in militant training activities linked to insurgent groups in Myanmar.
Matthew VanDyke, an American national, has become a focal point in an expanding counterterrorism investigation in India, according to various local media reports. He is one of seven foreign nationals detained in connection with alleged militant training activities in neighboring Myanmar.
India’s National Investigation Agency (NIA) claims that VanDyke, along with six Ukrainian nationals, was part of a network that provided training to insurgent groups operating near India’s northeastern borders. Reports from Indian officials indicate that the group’s activities included instruction in drone warfare, unauthorized cross-border movement, and suspected connections to armed factions active in the region. The investigation is ongoing.
At 46 years old, VanDyke has a diverse academic background and has spent much of the last two decades traveling across North Africa and West Asia, beginning his journey around 2007. He studied the Arab world at the University of Maryland and later earned a master’s degree in security studies from Georgetown University, according to Indian media sources.
VanDyke has described himself as a security analyst, war correspondent, and documentary filmmaker, with his career significantly influenced by experiences in conflict zones. He first gained international attention during the 2011 Libyan Civil War when he joined anti-government rebel forces fighting against Muammar Gaddafi. Reports indicate that he was captured in Brega in March 2011 and held in solitary confinement before managing to escape several months later.
In the aftermath of his experiences, VanDyke founded Sons of Liberty International, an organization that claims to provide military training and strategic guidance in conflict zones. He has stated that the killings of journalists James Foley and Steven Sotloff by Islamic State militants in Syria motivated him to establish this organization.
Originally from Baltimore, Maryland, VanDyke has also worked as a war correspondent for The Baltimore Examiner in 2009. Indian media reports, citing investigative sources, allege that he previously failed a polygraph test administered by the Central Intelligence Agency and was detained multiple times by Iraqi authorities between 2008 and 2010. These claims, however, have not been independently verified.
Reports indicate that VanDyke was arrested in Kolkata, while three Ukrainian nationals were detained in Lucknow and another three in New Delhi. All seven individuals were subsequently presented before the Patiala House Court.
The NIA has requested 15 days of custody to investigate the alleged conspiracy, trace travel routes, and identify other associates involved. The court granted 11 days of custody, with the accused scheduled to appear again on March 27.
Investigators allege that the group traveled to Guwahati and then to Mizoram without the necessary documentation before illegally crossing into Myanmar. Officials, as reported by Indian media, assert that the group aimed to conduct pre-arranged drone warfare training sessions for ethnic armed groups in the region.
As of now, there has been no detailed response from Washington regarding the situation. The U.S. Embassy in India has acknowledged awareness of the case but has refrained from further comments, citing privacy regulations. The U.S. Department of State has not released a public statement on the matter.
According to Indian media reports, the investigation into VanDyke and his associates continues to unfold, raising questions about their activities and connections in the region.