- January 14, 2024
Maldives president asks India to withdraw troops by March 15 amid deepening row | India News – Times of India
NEW DELHI: Amid an escalating diplomatic row, Maldives on Sunday asked India to withdraw its military personnel from the archipelago by March 15.
Maldivian President Mohamed Muizzu, who recently returned from his visit to China, formally asked India to end its army presence, Abdulla Nazim Ibrahim, the public policy secretary at the President’s Office, said at a press briefing.
According to the latest government figures, there are 88 Indian military personnel in the Maldives.
“Indian military personnel cannot stay in the Maldives. This is the policy of President Dr Mohamed Muizzu and that of this administration,” he said.
Maldives and India have set up a high-level core group to negotiate the withdrawal of troops.
On Sunday, the group held its first meeting at the Foreign Ministry Headquarters in Male.
The meeting was also attended by Indian high commissioner Munu Mahawar, the report said.
Nazim confirmed the meeting and said the agenda for the meeting was the request to withdraw troops by March 15.
The Indian government did not immediately confirm the media report or comment on it.
The move comes amid diplomatic tensions between both the nations after three ministers from the Maldives government made “derogatory” remarks against Prime Minister Narendra Modi when he posted pictures from his recent visit to Lakshadweep.
The ministers were suspended by the Maldives government following an intense backlash over their remarks. The controversy also triggered a massive Boycott Maldives campaign in India.
Pivot towards China
President Muizzu, who is a pro-China leader, had said that he will remove all Indian troops from the island during the campaigning for the presidential polls.
He even requested India to withdraw its forces immediately after taking oath as the President.
He said that the Maldivian people have given him a “strong mandate” to make this request to New Delhi.
During his recent state visit to China, Muizzu sought to align Maldives closer to Beijing.
He even requested China to increase tourism to Maldives amid the backlash in India.
Speaking to the press on Saturday after returning from China, President Muizzu indirectly attacked India.
Without naming any country, he said, “We may be small, but that doesn’t give you the license to bully us.”
He also announced plans to reduce the country’s dependency on India, including securing imports of essential food commodities and medicine and consumables from other countries.
“We aren’t in anyone’s backyard. We are an independent and sovereign state,” he said, addressing the reporters gathered at the Velana International Airport.
He said that no country has the right to exert influence over the domestic affairs of a country, regardless of its size.
He vowed that he would not allow any external influence on the domestic affairs of the Maldives.
Male is also reviewing more than 100 bilateral agreements with New Delhi signed by the previous government.
(With inputs from PTI)
Maldivian President Mohamed Muizzu, who recently returned from his visit to China, formally asked India to end its army presence, Abdulla Nazim Ibrahim, the public policy secretary at the President’s Office, said at a press briefing.
According to the latest government figures, there are 88 Indian military personnel in the Maldives.
“Indian military personnel cannot stay in the Maldives. This is the policy of President Dr Mohamed Muizzu and that of this administration,” he said.
Maldives and India have set up a high-level core group to negotiate the withdrawal of troops.
On Sunday, the group held its first meeting at the Foreign Ministry Headquarters in Male.
The meeting was also attended by Indian high commissioner Munu Mahawar, the report said.
Nazim confirmed the meeting and said the agenda for the meeting was the request to withdraw troops by March 15.
The Indian government did not immediately confirm the media report or comment on it.
The move comes amid diplomatic tensions between both the nations after three ministers from the Maldives government made “derogatory” remarks against Prime Minister Narendra Modi when he posted pictures from his recent visit to Lakshadweep.
The ministers were suspended by the Maldives government following an intense backlash over their remarks. The controversy also triggered a massive Boycott Maldives campaign in India.
Pivot towards China
President Muizzu, who is a pro-China leader, had said that he will remove all Indian troops from the island during the campaigning for the presidential polls.
He even requested India to withdraw its forces immediately after taking oath as the President.
He said that the Maldivian people have given him a “strong mandate” to make this request to New Delhi.
During his recent state visit to China, Muizzu sought to align Maldives closer to Beijing.
He even requested China to increase tourism to Maldives amid the backlash in India.
Speaking to the press on Saturday after returning from China, President Muizzu indirectly attacked India.
Without naming any country, he said, “We may be small, but that doesn’t give you the license to bully us.”
He also announced plans to reduce the country’s dependency on India, including securing imports of essential food commodities and medicine and consumables from other countries.
“We aren’t in anyone’s backyard. We are an independent and sovereign state,” he said, addressing the reporters gathered at the Velana International Airport.
He said that no country has the right to exert influence over the domestic affairs of a country, regardless of its size.
He vowed that he would not allow any external influence on the domestic affairs of the Maldives.
Male is also reviewing more than 100 bilateral agreements with New Delhi signed by the previous government.
(With inputs from PTI)
