India asked to withdraw its Military troops from Maldives by March 15

The President of Maldives, Mohamed Muizzu, has asked the Indian government to withdraw its military personnel from the Maldives by March 15. The reporst said that India also agreed to do so after the high level meeting with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Indian High Commissioner.

India and Maldives have been at loggerheads for quite some time now. The reason for this conflict is some controversial comments made by Maldivian ministers about Indian Prime Minister Modi.  After this issue there were even voices in India that Maldives should be boycotted. Meanwhile, the conflict between the two countries has now become more complicated.

Indian troops in Maldives

About 88 Indian soldiers are there to maintain the radars and surveillance aircraft in the Maldives. Also, Indian warships conduct patrols in Maldives’ exclusive economic zone. If the people in any part of the island is in medical emergencies, Indian flights are used to take them to the hospital immediately. This is why Indian military troops are in Maldives.

During last year’s election campaign in Maldives, Muizzu had said that he would cut ties with India and improve relations with China. At that time, he promised to expel the Indian army from the Maldives. After being elected as the president, Abdulla Najim Ibrahim, Secretary to the President of Maldives said that Indian soldiers cannot stay in Maldives as this is the policy decision of President Dr. Mohammad Muizzu’s government.

President’s decision after China trip

But last week when the president returned from a visit to China, the order of evacuating Indian troops was imposed strongly. The President has also said that it should be confirmed that there is no foreign army on Maldives soil. 

Maldives and India set up a high-level focus group to discuss troop withdrawal. The group held its first meeting on January 14, at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs headquarters in the capital of the Maldives. Indian High Commissioner Munu Mahawar was also present in this meeting.

Confirming the meeting, the Maldives President’s Secretary Nazim said that the issue of fast-track withdrawl of  Indian troops by March 15 was discussed and Indian government agreed to do so. But there was no official confirmation issued by Indian government in this regard.