The Ministry of Defence has revealed that a group of Indian civilians arrived in the Maldives on Monday evening to replace the Indian military personnel operating helicopters and a Dornier aircraft in the country.
However, the government did not disclose the number of Indian civilians that will be operating the helicopters.
"The civilian crew who will operate the helicopter in place of the Indian troops currently stationed in Seenu Gan (Addu city) has arrived in Maldives this evening," the ministry said in a statement.
President Dr. Mohamed Muizzu requested India to withdraw 89 military personnel stationed in the Maldives to operate the aircraft. India has agreed to the request and the military personnel will be replaced by May 10.
After several rounds of talks, both countries agreed to replace the military personnel with civilians and to continue the operations of the aircraft. The first group of Indian military personnel will leave the Maldives before March 10.
