2024-02-29 02:56:34
Male:The first batch of technical team has reached Male to replace the Indian military personnel posted in Maldives. Giving information, the Defense Ministry of Maldives has said that now instead of Indian military personnel, these personnel will be deployed on Indian properties in the country. These personnel will handle the helicopters provided by India. Maldivian President Mohammed Muizzu had requested India to withdraw its armed forces from Maldives and send civilians in their place. This change is taking place on the request of President Muizzu.
In a statement issued by the Defense Ministry of Maldives, it has been said that the civilian team operating the helicopter in place of the Indian soldiers currently deployed in Seenu Gan (Addu city) has reached Maldives on Monday evening. Indian military personnel present at the airport have started the handover process to civilians in the early hours of Tuesday. The Maldives’ Defense Ministry said the helicopter deployed at Laamu Gan Kadhadhoo air base would be returned to India for maintenance and a replacement helicopter would arrive on board the Indian warship on Wednesday.
The matter of withdrawal of military personnel was decided between the two countries.
Currently 70 to 80 Indian military personnel are in Maldives mainly to operate two Indian helicopters and one aircraft. They have carried out many medical emergency and humanitarian missions. The Maldives Foreign Ministry, after a high-level meeting between India and Maldives in Delhi on February 2, had said that India will replace its military personnel operating three aviation platforms in the Maldives by May 10. It was agreed in the talks that military personnel on one of the three aviation platforms would be withdrawn before March 10, 2024. Military personnel from the remaining two platforms will be sent back to India before May 10, 2024.
Removal of Indian troops from Maldives has been the main agenda of Mohammed Muizzu and his party. During the election campaign last year, Muizzu had repeatedly talked about sending back Indian soldiers in his speeches. Anti-India was an important part of his election campaign. He had repeated the issue of India Out many times during his elections.