The Indian military personnel stationed in the Maldives are being replaced by "technical" personnel, the Indian External Affairs Ministry has said.
The ministry's spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal told reporters on Thursday that the first group of "technical" personnel has arrived in the Maldives.
Although India says that "capable technical personnel" will replace the Indian troops in Maldives, the country has not provided details.
The Maldives government maintains that the Indian troops will be replaced by a "civilian" crew to operate two helicopters and a Dornier aircraft.
The Defence Ministry said on February 26 that the first group of the "civilian" crew had arrived and that a new helicopter would also be brought.
An Indian ship carrying the new helicopter has now docked in Addu to replace the old helicopter in Seenu Gan (Addu city).
Officials from the Indian High Commission are also reportedly in Addu to oversee the operation to bring in the new helicopter.
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.
