Second batch of Indian military troops leaves Maldives

MALDIVES President Dr Mohamed Muizzu said that Indian military personnel based on the second platform left the Maldives last Thursday, local media Edition reported on Saturday.  There has been no confirmation on this from the Indian side as of now.

The President also confirmed that the final batch of Indian military personnel will be leaving the Maldives on the agreed date, by May 10.

There is only one platform left. As the two countries have already signed, they [the remaining Indian military personnel] will also be recalled ahead of May 10. They will leave," President Muizzu was quoted by the report as saying.

He added, "So that pledge is fulfilled, isn't it? All foreign military here will leave before May 10. So any pledge I make, I will work to fulfill to the greatest extent." He was speaking at a campaign rally ahead of the April 21 Parliamentary Election in the Maldives.

The first batch of 25 Indian troops had reportedly left the island nation earlier around March 13.

India-Maldives deal

Soon after taking over the Maldives President, Muizzu had requested India in January this year to withdraw military troops stationed in Maldives. He had also set May 10 as the deadline for the complete withdrawal of the troops. 

The agreement between Maldives and India was aimed at replacing the Indian military personnel stationed in Maldives — to oversee the operations of the military aircraft — with trained civilians also from India.

However, Muizzu later declared that no Indian military personnel, including those in civilian attire, would be permitted in his country after May 10. As per reports, India operated and maintained radars, helicopters, and aircraft in the Maldives. There were around 70 Indian military personnel in the Maldives.

Earlier in April, Muizzu had highlighted the presence of Indian troops on three platforms in Maldives. Maldives' PSM News quoted him as saying that the withdrawal of foreign troops from Maldives is being "pursued in accordance with diplomatic norms and principles".