The government has officially disclosed the presence of 77 Indian military personnel stationed within Maldivian territory.
The information was made public by the Under Secretary for Public Policy at the President's Office Mohamed Firzul during a press conference held Sunday.
At the press briefing, Firzul outlined the specific roles of the Indian military personnel in the Maldives.
He specified that 24 individuals are involved in helicopter operations, 25 are engaged in the operations of a Dornier aircraft, 26 are assigned to a second helicopter's operations, and an additional two individuals are responsible for the maintenance and engineering works of these aircraft.
The previous government had also said that there were 75 Indian military personnel in Maldives for humanitarian work. However, the current ruling party claimed that the real figure was much higher.
The former government denied the allegations. The government, at the time, said troops were stationed for humanitarian work.
President Dr. Mohamed Muizzu formally made the request to withdraw Indian troops when he met the Minister of Earth Sciences of India, Kiren Rijiju, at the President’s Office on Saturday.
The President noted that the two helicopters and Dornier flight donated by India benefit the people and the government of Maldives.
He thanked India for their assistance in transporting patients, surveillance and preventing drug smuggling, the official added.
