ALBAWABA - In a statement, Maldives president Mohamed Muizzu has given a deadline to India to withdraw its troops from the island by March 15 at the latest.
public policy secretary at the Presidential Office said: "Indian military personnel cannot stay in the Maldives. This is the policy of President Dr Mohamed Muizzu and that of this administration".
The withdrawal order comes after almost two months after the President's call for the withdrawal of Indian troops and said the nation "has to ensure that there is no presence of a foreign military on their soil". According to local reports, around 88 Indian troops are stationed across the Maldives.
The Maldives and India have formed a high-level core group to negotiate the withdrawal of troops. On Sunday morning, the group met for the first time at the Foreign Ministry headquarters in Male. The meeting was also attended by Indian High Commissioner Munu Mahawar, according to the report.
The withdrawal of Indian troops from the Maldives was a key election promise for Muizzu. The Maldives recently upgraded ties with China after a diplomatic row between India and the Maldives erupted after Maldivian ministers made derogatory comments about Prime Minister Narendra Modi following his visit to the Lakshadweep islands.
President Muizzu previously recognized the critical role of two Indian helicopters, the Dhruv, in numerous emergency medical evacuations. This small group of Indian soldiers has been stationed in the Maldives for many years.
