Anjali Sharma
GG News Bureau
NEW YORK, 15th Jan. According to local media reports on Sunday Mr. Abdulla Nazim Ibrahim, the public policy secretary at the President’s Office said President Muizzu has asked India to withdraw its troops by March 15.
India and the Maldives held the first meeting of their high-level core group in Male after reports that Maldivian President Mohamed Muizzu has formally asked India to withdraw its troops stationed inMaldives.
Both sides held discussions on a wide-range of issues related to bilateral cooperation to identify steps to enhance the partnership, including expediting the implementation of ongoing development cooperation projects.
Ministry of External Affairs said “Both sides also held discussions on finding mutually workable solutions to enable continued operation of Indian aviation platforms that provide humanitarian and medvac (medical evacuation) services to the people of the Maldives”.
India said that there are over 80 Indian troops in the Maldives, along with Dornier maritime patrol aircraft and two Dhruv helicopters, stationed in the Maldives.
The tension erupted between the two countries after three suspended Maldivian ministers made derogatory comments against Prime Minister Narendra Modi after his visit to Lakshadweep.
