Indian High Commissioner to Maldives Munu Mahawar and a delegation of Indian diplomats have held key talks with high-level officials from the Maldives Foreign Ministry.
A Foreign Ministry official confirmed to Adhadhu that the meeting of the co-committee comprising senior officials from Maldives and India, which began this morning, has now concluded.
The committee meeting discussed the removal of Indian troops from Maldives and other issues between the two countries. No further details were available.
Officials in the meeting include Chief of Staff of the President's Office Abdulla Fayaz, Ambassador at Large Ali Naseer, Maldives Ambassador to India Ibrahim Shaheeb and Chief of Defense Force Abdul Raheem Abdul Latheef.
The meeting was earlier scheduled to continue until the evening.
The meeting comes after President Dr. Mohamed Muizzu concluded his state visit to China. In his remarks upon return to the Maldives yesterday, Muizzu harshly criticized India.
"We are not in the backyard of any particular country. We are an independent and sovereign country. So this basis of territorial integrity is a basis on which China respects us very much," he said.
Without naming India directly, the President said that in the previous government "they had to get permission to get up from one seat and move to another." He repeated that "we will stand on our own feet without relying on anyone."
Before concluding his remarks, Muizzu said "we may be a small country, but that does not give you the license to bully us."
The President said he would end Maldives' dependence on India in various sectors and promised to stop bringing medicine from India and depending on India for medical treatment.
Muizzu came to power with a pledge to remove Indian soldiers from Maldives territory. Since assuming his office, he has requested India to withdraw the military personnel.
