Maldives tells India to pull out its defence personnel
The relations between the current China-backed dispensation in Maldives and India have been at a low for some time. But on Friday the simmering pot spilled over and Maldives asked India to withdraw its military helicopters and personnel posted there following the expiry of an agreement in June.
This is being seen in diplomatic circles as a big snub to New Delhi, reports wire agency Reuters.
India and China have been engaged in a civilian and military one-upmanship to retain a hold over the troubled Indian Ocean archipela- go, which is the gateway to the world's busiest shipping lanes.
It was all hunky dory for India until the island’s first democratically-elected president Mohamed Nasheed was forced to quit in 2012. He was convicted of terrorism charges and sentenced to 13 years in prison.
India did not endear itself to the regime of President Abulla Yameen by its criticism of his crackdown on political rivals and the imposition of an emergency this year, which constrained some of the president's rivals to call on Delhi for military intervention, creating worries in the Maldivian government.
The Maldives' ambassador in India, Ahmed Mohamed, told Reuters that two military helicopters provided by India were mainly used for medical evacuations but were no longer required as the island had built up enough resources of its own. "They were very useful in the past but with the development of adequate infrastructure, facilities and resources we are now in a position to handle medical evacuations on our own," he said.
Along with the helicopters, India had stationed around 50 military personnel, including pilots and maintenance crew, and their visas had expired. But Delhi has
not yet withdrawn them from the island.
‘‘We are still there, our two helicopters and the men," an Indian navy spokesman said on Wednesday, adding the foreign ministry was handling the situation. The foreign ministr y did not respond to a Reuters' request for comment.
India has been demanding that Yameen free political rivals, including former President Abdul Gayoom and Supreme Court justices. It has also criticised Yameen's decision to hold elections in September saying the rule of law should be restored before embarking on such an exercise.