Indian civilian contingent reaches Maldives to replace troops deployed on 3 aviation platforms. world News
New Delhi: As the deadline for India to withdraw its military personnel from Maldives approaches March 10, a team of Indian nationals has arrived in the island nation to take over one of the three aviation platforms operated by India there. Has landed, news agency PTI gave this information on Wednesday quoting local media reports. The civilian team reached Addu last night to complete the handover/takeover process, the Maldives Defense Ministry said in a statement quoted by themaldivesjournal.com, a news portal. “The civilian team will operate and maintain the aircraft,” the statement said.
This followed a high-level meeting in Delhi on February 2, where the Maldives Foreign Ministry said India agreed to replace its military personnel with civilians by May 10, and the first phase of the process would be completed by March 10.
Indian military personnel, who are expected to be replaced by civilians with expertise in operating the three platforms, are currently operating three Indian platforms providing humanitarian and medical assistance to the people of Maldives, news agency PTI said, citing sources. Providing clearance services. Over the years two helicopters and one Dornier aircraft were used.
The move comes soon after Maldivian President Mohammed Muizzu, widely considered a pro-China leader, announced in his maiden speech in Parliament on February 5 that the first batch of Indian military personnel would leave the island nation before March 10. Will give. That as per the agreement between the two countries, the remaining Indians operating both the aviation platforms will leave by May 10.
The news portal also reported on Wednesday that test flights will be conducted today (Wednesday) before the helicopter is sent to India for repairs. An Indian ship will reach Addu on 28 February carrying replacement helicopters.
The Defense Ministry statement further said that Indian troops will leave Maldives on scheduled dates.
Muizzu, who became President on November 17, formally asked India to withdraw 88 military personnel from his country by March 15, saying the people of Maldives had given him a “strong mandate” to make this request to New Delhi. .
Following the latest round of bilateral talks, India on February 2 said it had reached a “set of mutually workable solutions” with the Maldives to continue operating Indian aviation platforms in the island nation.
The Maldives, which lies at the center of the commercial sea routes running through the Indian Ocean Region (IOR), has vital strategic importance due to its proximity to India, which is only 70 nautical miles from Minicoy Island in Lakshadweep and 100 km from the mainland. 300 nautical miles off the west coast.
Maldives has been an important maritime neighbor of India in the IOR and holds a special place in initiatives like SAGAR (Security and Growth for All in the Region) and Neighborhood First Policy.