The first batch of Indian military personnel deployed in Maldives can leave Maldives by March 10.
Now India has sent a special team of citizens to handle their work. The first team of “Indian technical personnel” has reached Maldives.
This team will maintain the aviation platforms there. Maldives’ Defense Ministry said late on Monday that the first team of Indian nationals has arrived and will take over helicopter operations in Addu, the country’s southernmost atoll.
The statement said that as agreed by both the governments, Indian military personnel deployed in Addu will leave Maldives by March 10.
The statement also said that a second helicopter will also arrive from India by Wednesday and the civilian team will begin its training exercise to take over its operations.
On February 2, both the countries had decided that India would withdraw its military personnel from Maldives between March and May.
Randhir Jaiswal, the official spokesperson of the Ministry of External Affairs, had said on February 8 that “the current military personnel will be replaced by capable Indian technical personnel.” They will continue to operate two helicopters and one Dornier aircraft in the Maldives.
It is noteworthy that Maldives’ China-loving President Mohammed Muizzu had demanded that India withdraw its troops by March 15.
After this, the Ministry of External Affairs said that the Indian soldiers present in Maldives will now be replaced by Indian technical staff. It is believed that at least 75 Indian military personnel are in Maldives.
These soldiers are deployed to transport patients from remote islands and to help people during any untoward incident on the seashore.
Recently, India had given Dornier airplane and two helicopters to Maldives. The technical staff will maintain these helicopters and ships in Maldives.
After coming to power in Maldives last year, President Mohammed Muizzu took a tough stance against India. Tension between India and Maldives has increased ever since the pro-China Muizzu came to power.
The Maldives Foreign Ministry said on January 2 that officials from the two countries met in New Delhi and agreed that India would begin withdrawing its troops from the Maldives from March.