In the realm of diplomatic discourse, the former Maldivian minister of foreign affairs, Abdulla Shahid, asserted on a recent occasion that the proclamations emanating from Maldivian President Mohamed Muizzu concerning “myriads of Indian military personnel” were nothing more than a succession of falsehoods. He added that there exists an absence of armed foreign soldiers stationed within their nation.
Communicating through his social media platform X, the recently inaugurated head of the Maldivian Democratic Party articulated, “A century of days unfolding, the reality becomes evident: President Muizzu’s declarations of ‘myriads of Indian military personnel’ were but another installment in a series of untruths. The incumbent administration’s incapacity to furnish precise figures resonates loudly. No foreign soldiers under arms find a home in our nation.”
He further emphasized the significance of transparency, asserting that the veracity must emerge triumphant. “Transparency holds weight, and veracity must emerge triumphant,” he proclaimed. Worth noting is the fact that the extraction of Indian forces from the Maldives constituted a central tenet of Muizzu’s political agenda. Presently, approximately 70 Indian troops, accompanied by Dornier 228 maritime patrol aircraft and two HAL Dhruv helicopters, are stationed within the Maldivian borders.
On the second day of his tenure, Muizzu formally petitioned the Indian government for the withdrawal of its military personnel from the Maldives. In the preceding December, Muizzu proclaimed that, subsequent to discussions with the Indian government, an accord had been reached to withdraw Indian military personnel. The president further mentioned that diplomatic negotiations were in progress for the removal of Indian troops.
He expounded that, as per the stipulations of the latest discussions, the military personnel on one of the three aviation platforms would be pulled back by March 10, 2024, while the personnel on the remaining two platforms would undergo withdrawal before May 10, 2024. Earlier this month, the Ministry of External Affairs communicated that India would substitute military personnel at aviation platforms in the Maldives with proficient Indian technical personnel.