Ministry: Details of Indian soldiers presently classified, working to declassify

Defense Ministry, underscoring the details of the Indian military personnel based in the Maldives are presently classified, states efforts are underway to disclose this information after declassification.

President Dr. Mohamed Muizzu had built his presidential campaign on the promise of expelling Indian military personnel from the Maldives. To honor his pledge, he has made a formal request to India to withdraw its military personnel by March 15^th. The governments of both nations have initiated discussions in this trajectory.

Sun, under the Right to Information Act, sought the number of Indian military personnel based in the Maldives and their details via writing following the change in administration.

In response to the request, the Defense Ministry, on Thursday, said the information has been declared as ‘classified’ by the government and therefore, is unable to disclose the information as of present.

However, the Ministry noted that efforts were underway to declassify the information in collaboration with the Attorney General’s Office and the relevant authorities, adding the information will be disclosed as soon as the declassification takes effect.

Maldives and India have set up a high-level core group to negotiate the withdrawal of troops. The group held its first meeting at the Foreign Ministry Headquarters in Male’. During the meeting, both sides agreed to fast-track the withdrawal of Indian military personnel in the Maldives as per the Maldivian Foreign Ministry.

The second meeting of the group is scheduled to be held in India as per the nation’s Ministry of External Affairs.