India, Maldives Hold Third High-Level Core Group Meeting Days After First Batch Of Indian Troops Withdrawn From Maldivian Territory

India-Maldives Row: Indian and Maldivian delegations met in Male as part of the third meeting of the high-level bilateral core group constituted for the withdrawal of Indian military personnel from the Maldives, the Ministry of External Affairs informed. Notably, India had sent its military teams to Maldives to operate the three Indian aviation platforms that have been providing humanitarian and medevac services to the locals for the past few years.

The latest meeting came days after a batch of Indian military personnel left Maldives, becoming the first such group to be withdrawn by India. During the meeting, both sides continued their discussions on wide-ranging issues related to bilateral cooperation, the MEA informed.

"During the meeting, both sides reviewed the ongoing deputation of Indian technical personnel to enable continued operation of Indian aviation platforms that provide humanitarian and medvac services to the people of Maldives," the MEA said in an official press release. The discussions also focussed on efforts to boost bilateral trade and investment and enhance people-to-people linkages between India and Maldives, New Delhi informed.

"Both sides continued their discussions on wide-ranging issues related to bilateral cooperation. This inter alia, included expediting the implementation of ongoing development cooperation projects through regular convening of joint monitoring mechanisms, efforts to boost bilateral trade & investment and enhancing people-to-people linkages through capacity building and travel," the MEA release added.

According to New Delhi, a civilian team of technical experts from India reached the Maldives last month to replace the military personnel operating an advanced light helicopter in the island nation. "The first team of technical personnel to operate the advanced light helicopter has reached the Maldives. It will replace the existing personnel who were operating this platform," Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal said on February 29.

Following the second meeting of the high-level core group established by India and the Maldives for the withdrawal of Indian troops, Male had informed that New Delhi would complete the replacement of its military personnel with civilian ones in two phases by May 10. A day after assuming office, Maldives's incumbent president, Mohammed Muizzu, had asked the Indian government to withdraw Indian troops from the island nation before March 15.

Notably, the removal of Indian troops in the Maldives was the main campaign of Muizzu's party. There were around 70 Indian troops, along with Dornier 228 maritime patrol aircraft and two HAL Dhruv helicopters, stationed in the Maldives prior to the withdrawal of the first batch of Indian military personnel.

(With inputs from agencies)