India: Discussions also held on continued operation of Indian aircrafts

India’s Ministry of External Affairs states discussions were also held on enabling enable continued operation of Indian aviation platforms that provide humanitarian and medical evacuation services to the people of Maldives at Sunday’s High Level Core Group meeting.

The first meeting of the High-Level Core Group between Maldives and India took place at the Maldivian Foreign Ministry in Male’ on Sunday. Participants of the meeting included the Indian Ambassador to the Maldives Munu Mahawar.

During the meeting, both sides agreed to fast-track the withdrawal of Indian military personnel in the Maldives as per the Maldivian Foreign Ministry.

India’s Ministry of External Affairs in a later statement providing more details into the meeting said discussions were held on finding mutually a workable solution to enable the continued operation of Indian aviation platforms that provide humanitarian and medical evacuation services to the people of Maldives.

Two helicopters and a dornier aircraft from India are in operation in the Maldives. 

The High-Level Core Group was formed following a meeting between Maldivian President Dr. Mohamed Muizzu and Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi on the sidelines of COP28. 

In a press briefing on Sunday afternoon, Abdulla Nazim Ibrahim, the public policy secretary at the President’s Office, said that President Muizzu has formally asked India to withdraw its military personnel by March 15.

According to the latest government figures, there are 88 Indian military personnel in Maldives.

President Muizzu had built his presidential campaign on the promise of expelling Indian military personnel from the Maldives, and had made a formal request to India to withdraw its military personnel soon after assuming to office.

Speaking to press on Saturday, after he returned to the Maldives after a five-day state visit to China, President Muizzu indirectly attacked India.

Without naming any country, he said, "We may be small, but that doesn't give you the license to bully us.”