India Hands Over Maldives Ops To Civilian Team: Military Exit Looms

The Maldives capital Male was reached by an Indian civilian team to assume control of one of the three aviation platforms in the island nation, preceding the March 10 deadline for the withdrawal of Indian military personnel from Maldives, on Wednesday.

According to a statement by the Maldives Defence Ministry quoted by PTI, the civilian team arrived in Addu early last night to complete the handover/takeover process.

India Hands Over Maldives Ops to Civilian Team

Additionally, local media in Maldives reported on Wednesday that test flights will be conducted before the helicopter is transported to India for repairs. An Indian ship carrying the replacement helicopter is scheduled to dock in Addu on the 28th of this month. The Defence Ministry statement further mentioned that the withdrawal of Indian troops from the Maldives will occur on dates agreed upon by the two countries.

This development follows Maldivian President Mohamed Muizzu's announcement in his maiden address to Parliament on February 5, where he stated that the first group of Indian military personnel would be sent back from the island nation before March 10, with the remaining individuals manning the two aviation platforms to be withdrawn by May 10 as per the agreement between the two countries, reported FirstPost.

It is understood that the Indian military personnel will be replaced by civilians possessing expertise in operating the three platforms. Currently, 88 military personnel are manning the three Indian platforms, which have been providing humanitarian and medical evacuation services to the people of the Maldives for the past few years using two helicopters and a Dornier aircraft, as reported By Hindustan Times.

Following his inauguration as President on November 17, Muizzu formally requested India to withdraw 88 military personnel from his country by March 15, citing a "strong mandate" from the Maldivian people to make this request to New Delhi. After the latest round of bilateral talks, India announced on February 2 that a "set of mutually workable solutions" was agreed upon with the Maldives for continuing the operations of Indian aviation platforms in the island nation.