Indian Troops: Stepping up his anti-India rhetoric, Maldives President Mohamed Muizzu has confirmed that no Indian military personnel, not even those in civilian clothing, would be present in his country. After May 10, a media statement was made today.
President Muizzu’s statement comes less than a week after an Indian civilian team advanced to the Maldives. They tried to take charge of one of the island nation’s three aviation platforms. This was well before the March 10 deadline agreed by the two nations for the exit of Indian military personnel.
Addressing the Baa atoll Eydhafushi residential community during his term across the atoll. The President commented that due to his government’s success in expelling Maldives Indian troops from the country, people who spread untrue rumors are trying to turn the situation.
“These people [Indian military] are not leaving; they are returning after changing their uniforms into civilian clothing. We must not indulge in thoughts that infuse doubts in our hearts and spread lies,” the portal quoted Mr. Muizzu. He is widely obeyed as a China-backed leader.
Maldives Pushes for Full Indian Troop Withdrawal
“There will be no Indian troops in the country come May 10, not in uniform nor civilian clothing. The Indian military will not be residing in this country in any form of clothing. I state this with assurance,” he said on a day when his country signed a deal with China. To receive free military aid.
Earlier last month, after a high-level meeting between the two sides in Delhi on February 2. The Maldivian foreign ministry said India would substitute its military personnel operating the three aviation platforms in the Maldives by May 10. The first phase of the process will be completed by March 10.
He made equal remarks in his maiden address to Parliament on February 5.
88 military personnel manage the three Indian platforms. For the past few years, two helicopters and a Dornier aircraft have provided humanitarian and medical evacuation services to the Maldives’ people.
Mr Muizzu rode to power last year on an anti-India stance. Within hours of taking the oath, he pressed that India remove its personnel from the strategically located archipelago in the Indian Ocean.
Edition. Mv also reported that the first troops to depart the country were the Indian military personnel operating the two helicopters in Addu City. The military personnel in Haa Dhaalu Atoll Hanimaadhoo and Laamu Atoll Kahdhoo are also anticipated to leave before May 10.
India had agreed to withdraw their troops from Maldives under the condition that several civilians equal to the military presence be brought to operate the aircraft.
The opposition has been directing objections
The opposition has been directing objections against the administration. Claiming that the Indian personnel sent to the Maldives as civilians are, in reality, military officials out of uniform. The portal claimed that the government has no way to confirm otherwise.
Meanwhile, local media news also said that Maldives successfully tied up with Sri Lanka to run flights for medical evacuation last week. Further indicating that it is bent on removing all Indian troops in whichever category.
Further, he highlights that securing true independence is a concept he regards with utmost priority. The President remarked that the State is exerting efforts with due importance “to regain the southern maritime area deprived of the country in addition to expelling Indian troops from the Maldives.”
“I am confident we can achieve this. The delay in concluding this task is due to the adverse procedures practiced during the implementation. It was done without even taking the matter to the parliament … in violation of the Constitution as well,” the portal quoted the President as saying.
The Maldives are close to India. Barely 70 nautical miles from the island of Minicoy in Lakshadweep. 300 nautical miles from the mainland’s western coast. Their location at the hub of commercial sea lanes running through the Indian Ocean Region (IOR). Itgives them marked strategic importance.
The Maldives has been India’s key maritime neighbor in the IOR. It occupies a special place in its initiatives, such as SAGAR (Security and Growth for All in the Region). Also, the Neighbourhood First Policy.’
