The Maldives High Commission of India declared in a statement that Indian aviation platforms have always operated in the Maldives in accordance with “agreed procedures and with due authorization.”
Maldivian Defense Minister Ghassan Maumoon said on Tuesday that Indian military helicopter pilots stationed in the Maldives conducted an unauthorized mission in 2019. However, India refuted this accusation.
The Maldives High Commission of India declared in a statement that Indian aviation platforms have always operated in the Maldives in accordance with “agreed procedures and with due authorization.”
Days after President Mohamed Muizzu’s insistence that India complete the evacuation of 76 military soldiers from the Maldives, an explanation was provided. Since Muizzu, a pro-China politician, took office in November of last year, the relationship between India and the Maldives has gotten worse.
Muizzu has stipulated that Indian armed forces are to leave his nation by May 10.
Defense Minister Ghassan stated he was aware of one of the aviation platforms conducting an unauthorized sortie during a news conference held here on Saturday.
The individual recounted an incident in which one of the two helicopters piloted by Indian military personnel in the Maldives made an unauthorized landing in Thimarafushi. During his legislative tenure, he stated that the case was examined by the Parliament’s Committee on National Security Services (241 Committee).
The Indian mission, however, denied the accusation.
“Indian aviation platforms in the Maldives have always operated as per agreed procedures and with due authorization from the Maldives National Defence Force (MNDF),” stated the Indian High Commission.
The Maldivian Defense Minister’s comments were cited by the High Commission, which stated that the October 9, 2019, emergency landing at Thimarafushi was “necessitated due to an unforeseen exigency.”The MNDF gave its consent for the particular sortie that was carried out on October 9, 2019, as mentioned during the press briefing.
An unanticipated situation required the emergency landing at Thimarafushi, which was executed after obtaining the required on-ground clearances from the Air Traffic Control (ATC) to guarantee the platform and crew’s safety and security, according to the High Commission.
Local media reports state that on May 11, the MNDF disclosed that during the administration of former President Ibrahim Mohamed Solih, Indian military personnel who had been operating the helicopters that the Indian government had gifted to the Maldives had taken a trip on the helicopter without informing the Maldivian military.
Admittedly, during the same news conference, Defense Minister Ghassan acknowledged that the Maldives military currently lacks pilots qualified to fly three Indian-donated aircraft.
Two helicopters and a Dornier aircraft that India had provided were operated by Indian military forces stationed in the Maldives. Medical evacuations were the main purpose of the planes and the helicopters.
Following an agreement reached in New Delhi in February, the two nations established a May 10 deadline for the return of the last batch of Indian military troops. This date was met on Friday.
The Maldives is India’s principal maritime neighbor in the Indian Ocean Region (IOR) and holds a particular position in government efforts such as ‘SAGAR’ (Security and Growth for All in the Region) and the ‘Neighbourhood First Policy’.
