India-Maldives Row: Maldives Defense Force said on Thursday (March 7) that Maldives will have operating rights over the helicopter provided by India and the civilian crew operating it.
Colonel Ahmed Mujuthaba Mohammed, Principal Director of Planning, Policy and Resource Management for the Maldives National Defense Force (MNDF) said in the press conference that discussions are ongoing for the withdrawal of Indian troops from Maldives.
He stressed that the government of President Mohammed Muizzu has decided not to allow any foreign military contingent to be deployed in the Maldives after May 10, state broadcaster PSM News reported.
Last week, India said its first civilian team of technical experts had arrived in the Maldives to replace military personnel operating an advanced light helicopter in the island nation.
First team of technical personnel reached Maldives
“The first team of technical personnel to operate the advanced light helicopter has reached Maldives,” External Affairs Ministry spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal said in a weekly press conference on February 29. It will replace the existing personnel who were operating this platform.
India will remove all military personnel in two phases by May 10
After the second meeting of the high-level core group formed to address the issue of withdrawal of Indian military personnel, the Foreign Ministry of Maldives had said that India will withdraw all its military personnel in two phases by May 10.
Muizzu had raised this issue after assuming the post of President
India’s relations with the Maldives came under strain when Mohammed Muizzoo, a pro-China leader, said after taking over as President in November that he would keep his election promise of expelling all Indian military personnel from the country. Will fulfill.
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