India and Maldives are involved in negotiations to keep Indian military platforms in the country “operational”, government sources told Sputnik India on Monday.
“The continued usefulness of the Indian platforms as it was recognised in discussions needs to be looked at in a proper perspective. The issue was briefly discussed in Dubai (during the meeting between Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Maldivian President Mohamed Muizzu). The Maldivian side has acknowledged the utility of these platforms,” sources underlined.
They stated that these Indian platforms, which are involved in Humanitarian Assistance and Disaster Relief (HADR) operations carried out by the Maldivian National Defence Force (MNDF) in the Indian Ocean, formed “an important segment” of the developmental partnership between New Delhi and Male.
New Delhi was a favoured and defence partner of the Maldives under ex-President Ibrahim Mohamad Solih, who lost the presidential election to Muizzu in October this year.
The Muizzu administration revealed that the Indian troops were engaged in operations of two helicopters and a Dornier Aircraft.
“The fact that it is an important segment of our bilateral development partnership is recognised by both sides,” said sources.
They stated that the “core group” announced after the meeting between Modi and Muizzu on the sidelines of the United Nations Climate Change Conference (COP28) in Dubai last week has agreed to take the discussions on the matter forward.
On Sunday, Muizzu told a press conference in Male after returning from Dubai that New Delhi has agreed to withdraw its military personnel.