RCMP have issued arrest warrants for two former Winnipeggers wanted on terrorism-related charges.

On Tuesday, RCMP Assistant Commissioner Bill Robinson told reporters that a four-year-long investigation has led to charges and warrants against Ferid Ahmed Imam, 30, and Maiwand Yar, 27.

"These warrants are the result of a lengthy and thorough national security criminal investigation involving key partners throughout Canada and the U.S.," said Robinson.

The warrants were issued as part of an investigation known as Project Darken.

Both suspects had been attending the University of Manitoba when they abruptly left the country and travelled to Pakistan in March 2007, said RCMP. Their current whereabouts are unknown.

Imam was in his final year of bio-chemistry and Yar was in his final year of mechanical engineering.

Robinson said police are "currently seeking Yar and Imam with the aim of bringing them to justice in an open and fair judicial system."

RCMP believe in December 2006 the two men began planning to leave Winnipeg to join insurgency efforts in Afghanistan.

"Not too long ago, the young men at the centre of this investigation were students at the University of Manitoba with promising careers. Something interfered with those plans," said David McClelland, prairie region director for CSIS.

Imam faces charges for instructing to carry out terrorism activities and conspiracy to participate in the activity of a terrorist group.

Yar faces charges of conspiracy to participate in the activity of a terrorist group and participation in the activity of a terrorist group.

Imam has also been named in a federal indictment in Brooklyn in the U.S.

According to U.S. and Canadian officials, Imam is also known as "Yousef."

The U.S. indictment said Imam was identified by Zarein Ahmedzay, who is now serving time for his role in a plot to bomb a New York subway line.

"Ahmedzay was able to able to positively identify Imam in a photograph. Ahmedzay confirms that Imam was a weapons instructor who went by the name ‘Yousef' at the terrorist training camp in Peshawar," said RCMP Assistant Commissioner Bill Robinson.

One terrorism expert said many terrorists tend to be between 20 and 30 years old for a specific reason.

"There's a very delicate period between high school and your job and university where you can be easily influenced," said Peter St. John.

The Winnipeg Muslim community is in shock and is cooperating with the investigation.

"It affects me, definitely. That's not the way Islam works," said Mahmoud Al-Zaibaq, from the U of M's Muslim Students' Association.

"One message is very clear - we have zero tolerance for this kind of activity for terrorism," said Shahina Siddiqui from Islamic Services.

The investigation to locate suspects Ferid Ahmed Imam and Maiwand Yar is continuing.

Anyone with information on their whereabouts is asked to contact the RCMP National Security tip line at 1-800-420-5805.

- with a report from CTV's Eleanor Coopsammy