NEW DELHI: Admitting for the first time India will be withdrawing its military personnel from the Maldives, the govt said on Thursday the military staff involved in operating and maintaining Indian aviation platforms will be replaced by Indian “competent technical personnel”. President Mohamed Muizzu had pursued India relentlessly for withdrawal of Indian troops, saying this was the democratic will of the people of his country.
Muizzu also announced in Parliament last week that India will withdraw its military personnel by May 10.
Sources said some employees of defence PSU Hindustan Aeronautics Limited(HAL) are likely to be sent to replace the military personnel operating the two Dhruv advanced light helicopters (ALHs) and a Dornier-228 maritime patrol aircraft in the Maldives as part of the “workable solution” being thrashed out between the two countries.
The 85 Indian military personnel based in the Indian Ocean Region (IOR) archipelago will be progressively replaced by non-uniformed personnel, which will include pilots and technicians from HAL and other civilians, in the March to April timeframe.
Indian Navy and Coast Guard personnel currently maintain and operate the two ALHs and the Dornier-228 aircraft, which have been extensively used for humanitarian aid and medical evacuations in the archipelago.
“I would like to say that the present personnel will be replaced by competent Indian technical personnel,” ministry of external affairs spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal said at a media briefing.
In his remarks, Jaiswal said India remained a committed development partner of the Maldives. On budgetary allocation under India’s development assistance to the Maldives, Jaiswal said a certain amount was allocated and it could be revised.
The budgetary allocation to the Maldives for 2023-24 was Rs 400 crore but the revised estimate showed that the outlay went up to almost Rs 771 crore which is almost double of the initial amount. In the interim budget for 2024-25, an amount of Rs 600 crore has been set aside as development assistance to the country. Jaiswal said the new figure could be revised once there is clarity on forward movement.
Muizzu also announced in Parliament last week that India will withdraw its military personnel by May 10.
Sources said some employees of defence PSU Hindustan Aeronautics Limited(HAL) are likely to be sent to replace the military personnel operating the two Dhruv advanced light helicopters (ALHs) and a Dornier-228 maritime patrol aircraft in the Maldives as part of the “workable solution” being thrashed out between the two countries.
The 85 Indian military personnel based in the Indian Ocean Region (IOR) archipelago will be progressively replaced by non-uniformed personnel, which will include pilots and technicians from HAL and other civilians, in the March to April timeframe.
Indian Navy and Coast Guard personnel currently maintain and operate the two ALHs and the Dornier-228 aircraft, which have been extensively used for humanitarian aid and medical evacuations in the archipelago.
“I would like to say that the present personnel will be replaced by competent Indian technical personnel,” ministry of external affairs spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal said at a media briefing.
In his remarks, Jaiswal said India remained a committed development partner of the Maldives. On budgetary allocation under India’s development assistance to the Maldives, Jaiswal said a certain amount was allocated and it could be revised.
The budgetary allocation to the Maldives for 2023-24 was Rs 400 crore but the revised estimate showed that the outlay went up to almost Rs 771 crore which is almost double of the initial amount. In the interim budget for 2024-25, an amount of Rs 600 crore has been set aside as development assistance to the country. Jaiswal said the new figure could be revised once there is clarity on forward movement.
