India wants a peaceful solution to the government’s request to withdraw Indian troops from Maldives, a senior Indian official has said.
President Dr. Mohamed Muizzu formally made the request when he met the Minister of Earth Sciences of India, Kiren Rijiju, at the President’s Office on Saturday.
A senior Indian official told Adhadhu that the meeting was very successful and they were ready to proceed smoothly.
"Both President Muizzu and the minister were satisfied with the meeting. The two countries discussed moving forward on the troops issue in an agreed manner and India is ready for that," the official said.
The official said that during the meeting, the President noted that the two helicopters and Dornier flight donated by India benefit the people and the government.
The President thanked India for their assistance in transporting patients, surveillance and preventing drug smuggling, the official added.
The Maldives government has not requested the Indian government in writing or otherwise to withdraw its troops outside yesterday's meeting, the official said.
Shortly after the statement on the meeting was published, the statement, reference number 2023-489, disappeared from the President's Office website.
The President's Office has since issued a detailed statement while the first statement did not provide details.
According to the statement published later, the two discussed strengthening bilateral relations.
Muizzu requested the withdrawal of Indian troops and expressed hopes that the Indian government would respect the decision of the people of Maldives, it added.
