April 15, 2024
2 mins read

‘2nd batch of Indian military personnel leave Maldives’

Muizzu had set March 10 as the deadline for the withdrawal of the first group of Indian military personnel from his country….reports Asian Lite News

The second batch of Indian military personnel manning a helicopter gifted by India to the Maldives has left the island nation as demanded by him, President Mohamed Muizzu has said.

Muizzu, a pro-China leader, also reaffirmed that foreign ambassadors in Male will not wield authority over him emphasising that ultimate power rests with the citizens.

Last month, he had alleged that his predecessor Ibrahim Mohamed Solih operated on the orders from “a foreign ambassador” without naming any country.

He announced the withdrawal of the second Indian military contingent from the Maldives while speaking during a campaign event for the ruling People’s National Congress party candidates ahead of the parliamentary elections scheduled for April 21.

“The first team has already gone. Now, on April 9, the soldiers on the second platform have also been withdrawn,” Muizzu, who has been demanding the withdrawal of foreign soldiers from the Maldives during his election campaign last year, was quoted as saying by the local media on Saturday.

Muizzu had set March 10 as the deadline for the withdrawal of the first group of Indian military personnel from his country.

Under an agreement between Maldives and India in February, New Delhi agreed to replace the Indian military personnel stationed in Maldives to oversee the operations of the military aircraft the country has gifted with trained civilians also from India.

Muizzu also said the Indian soldiers on the last aviation platform would also leave the Maldives before May 10 deadline set by him and that would mark the fulfillment of his pledge to remove Indian soldiers from the island nation.

“There is only one platform left. As the two countries have already signed, they [the remaining Indian military personnel] will also be recalled ahead of May 10. They will leave,” Mr Muizzu was quoted as saying by Edition.mv news portal on Saturday.

He did not provide details of the number of the second batch of Indian military personnel who have left the Maldives. He also did not clarify whether the soldiers had been replaced by trained Indian civilians.

Neither the Maldives Defence Ministry nor India have commented on the latest withdrawal of Indian military personnel from this country.

According to the Maldives government, 88 Indian soldiers were stationed in the Maldives to operate helicopters in Addu and Laamu Kadhdhoo and a Dornier aircraft in Hanimaadhoo. The figure also includes doctors at the Senahiya military hospital, according to local media reports.

The first group of Indian soldiers left the Maldives on March 11. The Defence Ministry said 26 soldiers based in Addu were replaced by 26 Indian civilians. India also replaced the old helicopter in Addu with a new one.

Relations between Maldives and India have deteriorated since Muizzu came to power in November last year while closer ties are maintained with China. He also travelled to China in January and met top Chinese leaders, including President Xi Jinping.

ALSO READ: Israeli envoy assures safety of Indian workers

Previous Story

Jaishankar, Cameron discuss situation in West Asia

Next Story

India building up capabilities to deter PRC expansionism

Latest from -Top News

Trump urges restraint  

President Donald Trump expresses concern over the escalating situation between India and Pakistan and stated that he would offer any possible help to de-escalate tensions    President Donald Trump expressed his concern

Up to 1,000 transgender troops moved out

Department officials have said it’s difficult to determine exactly how many transgender service members there are The Pentagon will immediately begin moving as many as 1,000 openly identifying transgender service members out

UAE calls for calm

Sheikh Abdullah bin Zayed Al Nahyan, UAE’s Minister of Foreign Affairs, urged Inda and Pakistan to “exercise restraint” and avoid further escalation that could imperil regional and global peace The United Arab
Go toTop

Don't Miss

‘1.83 cr people saved through Vande Bharat Mission’

Thakur said that in 2021-22, under one of the biggest

Mauritius opens another section of India-funded Metro Express

The projects include a new Supreme Court building, Social Housing