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India: Troops in Maldives will be replaced by ‘technical personnel’

Published

3 months ago

09/02/2024

The Indian government said on Thursday that its troops in the Maldives will be replaced by “competent technical personnel.”

According to the latest government figures, there are 88 Indian military personnel in Maldives, to provide support for military equipment given by New Delhi.

Maldives and India have set up a high-level core group to negotiate the withdrawal of troops.

Following the second meeting of the high-level core group in New Delhi last week, the Maldivian Foreign Ministry said that both sides agreed that the India will “replace the military personnel in one of the three aviation platform” by March 10, and will “complete replacing military personnel in the other two platforms” by May 10.

In a press briefing on Thursday, Indian External Affairs Ministry spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal was asked about what the replacement of the troops mean.

“What we had to say, we made it out in the press release. This was done after the second high-level core group meeting. We also said that the third core group meeting will be subsequently held,” responded Jaiswal.

“I would like to say, the present personnel will be replaced by competent Indian technical personnel.”

The high-level core group held its second meeting in New Delhi on February 2, and are set to hold the third meeting in Male’ later this month.

In a statement regarding the meeting, the Maldivian Foreign Ministry said that India had agreed to start pulling out its troops on March 10th, and complete the process within two months.

The ministry added that both sides also reviewed “the existing bilateral cooperation to improve and enhance the partnership in defense and security cooperation, and economic development.

However, the Indian government’s statement on the meeting made no explicit reference to any withdrawal.

The Indian External Affairs Ministry said the two sides had “agreed on a set of mutually workable solutions, to enable continued operation of Indian aviation platforms, that provide humanitarian and medevac services to the people of Maldives.”

The Indian troops are deployed to operate three Indian-donated maritime reconnaissance aircraft; two helicopters, and a fixed-wing plane – which have also been used for medical evacuations in the Maldives.

Maldivian President Dr. Mohamed Muizzu, who got elected to office on the promise of removing all foreign military presence in the Maldives, made a formal request to India to withdraw its troops from the country on November 18, the day after he took office. He initially asked India to withdraw all troops by March 15.

Source(s): sun.mv

News

Minister confirms redeployment of all Indian militants

Published

10 hours ago

11/05/2024

Minister of Defence Mohamed Ghassan Maumoon has disclosed that the 76 Indian militants stationed in the Maldives have been successfully redeployed. The redeployment of foreign troops from the nation is a commitment of President Dr. Mohamed Muizzu.

The withdrawal of the Indian military troops stationed by May 10 in the Maldives, as per the pledge of President Dr. Muizzu, were officially announced today at a press conference held at the President’s Office. The troops were redeployed in batches, with the first batch redeployed in March. This was followed by the withdrawal of the second batch of militants in April and the last batch on May 10.

Details on the withdrawal of the foreign troops are as follows: In March, a total of 26 soldiers who were stationed in Gan, Addu City were redeployed, with 12 militants redeployed on March 7 and 14 militants on March 9. Meanwhile, 25 military personnel in Hanimaadhoo, Haa Dhaalu Atoll withdrew, with 13 soldiers redeployed on April 7 and 12 on May 9. The troops stationed in Kadhdhoo, Laamu Atoll were redeployed with 12 personnel withdrawing the platforms on May 7 and 13 by May 9.

Speaking at the press conference, Minister Ghassan revealed that the foreign soldiers working at Senahiya Military Hospital are doctors, and there were no plans to redeploy them. The minister assured that these soldiers were not partaking in any military roles.

Source(s): PsmNews

News

Foreign Minister prioritises talks with India to expedite projects

Published

10 hours ago

11/05/2024

Minister of Foreign Affairs Moosa Zameer has affirmed that significant strides have been made in expediting projects initiated in the Maldives with financial assistance from the Indian Government.

Following his official visit to India at the invitation of Minister of External Affairs S. Jaishankar, Minister Zameer said that a spectrum of initiatives across the nation has been kickstarted through loans and grants from the Government of India during the previous administration. He emphasised the current government’s commitment to prioritising the resumption and completion of these projects. He also underscored his dedication to this endeavor during his recent visit to India.

Additionally, Minister Zameer disclosed that both ministers engaged in bilateral discussions on May 9 to address pivotal matters aimed at expediting the projects. He underscored the discussions with Minister S. Jaishankar, focusing on the operational dynamics of the committees entrusted with executing these projects.

During the official discussions between the two nations, Minister S. Jaishankar reiterated the significance of India’s ongoing projects in the Maldives.

Source(s): PsmNew

News

Redeployment of Indian troops, attributed to critical thinking of President

Published

11 hours ago

11/05/2024

Minister of Defence Mohamed Ghassan Maumoon has revealed that all the Indian military troops, previously stationed in Maldivian platforms were effectively redeployed due to the strategic decision-making skills and critical thinking of President Dr. Mohamed Muizzu. The remarks were made by the minister during a press conference held to officially announce the redeployment of all Indian militants.

Addressing the media, Minister Ghassan disclosed that a total of 76 military personnel were stationed across three platforms in the Maldives. The three platforms include Hanimaadhoo in Haa Dhaalu Atoll, Gan in Addu City and Kadhdhoo in Laamu Atoll. The minister further confirmed the successful withdrawal of all foreign troops in the country by the deadline set by the government, which was May 10.

Minister Ghassan stated that the successful redeployment of troops through series of discussions in a small period of time, were attributed to the critical and strategic thinking of President Dr. Muizzu.

Source(s): PsmNews