India was striving to find a "workable solution" concerning its military personnel stationed in the Maldives, the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) said on Thursday amid the diplomatic row between the two countries.
The Maldives government, led by President Mohamed Muizzu, has issued a deadline of March 15 for the withdrawal of Indian troops. These personnel are essential for the operation of two advanced light helicopters (ALH) and a Dornier aircraft provided by India, mainly used for humanitarian assistance and disaster relief operations.
During a weekly media briefing, MEA spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal said, "What is important is to find a mutually workable solution for Indian aviation platforms. A core group meeting happened on the 14th of this month. The discussions are ongoing. A second core group meeting is to take place. Let us not prejudge the outcome."
The matter escalated following Muizzu's indirect criticism of India for "bullying", after which his government set the March 15 deadline. This announcement came amid the first meeting of the high-level India-Maldives core group in Male, where the Maldivian delegation, led by Ahmed Nazim, proposed the removal of Indian troops.
While the MEA acknowledged the first core group meeting, it did not specifically mention the troops' withdrawal in its agenda. Instead, the focus was on bilateral cooperation and the operation of Indian aviation platforms for humanitarian services, which are vital for the Maldives, especially for medical evacuations and importing essential commodities.
Representing India, High Commissioner Munu Mahawar and other senior officials were present at the meeting. The discussions were ongoing, with a second core group meeting anticipated. The Indian defence forces were awaiting directives from the government regarding the withdrawal of troops.
The situation was further complicated by Muizzu's recent visit to China and his government's insistence on the March 15 deadline. Historically, India has maintained a strong relationship with the Maldives, providing essential supplies and aid.
Indian and Maldivian officials were negotiating the future operation of the aircraft provided by India. Muizzu, who appears to lean towards China, has been vocal about withdrawing all Indian military personnel, including those operating the aircraft. This issue also came up during Muizzu's meeting with Prime Minister Narendra Modi at the COP28 Summit in Dubai last year.
(With inputs from agencies)