May 11th 2024.
During a press conference on Saturday, Moosa Zameer, the Minister of Foreign Affairs of Maldives, revealed that 76 Indian military personnel have been replaced by civilian employees from Hindustan Aeronautics Limited. These employees were responsible for manufacturing the helicopters that were gifted to Maldives by India. This news finally puts an end to the speculation and uncertainty surrounding the exact number of Indian soldiers being repatriated.
The repatriation process was completed by Friday, in accordance with the deadline set on May 10th after an agreement was reached between the two countries in February. This agreement was a result of the request made by President Mohamed Muizzu, who has been known to have pro-China leanings, just hours after assuming office in November.
According to local media reports, Zameer shared this information during his first official visit to India, upon returning to Maldives. He provided details about the presence of Indian soldiers stationed in Hanimaadhoo, Kadhdhoo, and Gan. Zameer stated that 26 soldiers were withdrawn from Gan between March 7th and 9th, 25 from Hanimaadhoo between April 7th and 9th, and 12 from Kadhdhoo on Tuesday. The remaining 13 soldiers were withdrawn from Kadhdhoo on Thursday.
It was previously reported by the Maldivian government that there were 89 Indian soldiers in the country, operating two military helicopters and a Dornier aircraft. Zameer clarified that these soldiers have now been replaced by civilian employees of Hindustan Aeronautics Limited, who have come to take over their duties.
During the press conference, Zameer also addressed concerns raised by some about the possibility of Indian military personnel still remaining in Maldives but disguised in civilian clothes. He reassured the public that the Indian military was not here under any false pretenses and that the Indian government has stated that the replacements are indeed civilians.
Minister of Defence Mohamed Ghassan Maumoon, who also spoke at the press conference, confirmed that the Maldives government has verified the civilian status of the replacements. He stated that the command and control of the aircrafts are now officially under the Defence Ministry and Maldives National Defence Force.
The relationship between India and Maldives has been strained since President Muizzu came to power in November, despite their close ties with China. Muizzu even visited China in January and met with top Chinese leaders, including President Xi Jinping. However, during Zameer's visit to India on Thursday, External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar emphasized that the development of India-Maldives ties is based on mutual interests and reciprocal sensitivity.
The Maldivian foreign ministry also released a statement saying that Jaishankar and Zameer discussed all aspects of the India-Maldives partnership and ways to enhance future collaboration. India considers Maldives as an important maritime neighbor in the Indian Ocean region and they play a significant role in initiatives such as 'SAGAR' and the 'Neighbourhood First Policy' of the Indian government.
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