The current government does not intend to continue using two Indian helicopters and a Dornier aircraft operated for various purposes in the country by the Maldives National Defense Force (MNDF), Adhadhu has learned.
India agreed to take back 89 Indian soldiers based in the Maldives to operate the helicopters and Dornier aircraft upon request by President Dr. Mohamed Muizzu.
After talks between the two countries, it was agreed to replace the soldiers with civilians to operate the aircraft. The first batch of Indian soldiers left the Maldives on March 10 with the last batch due to leave by May 10, according to the government.
The first batch of civilian personnel to operate the aircraft in the place of the soldiers has now arrived in the Maldives. They replaced soldiers based in Addu.
Last month, India sent over a new helicopter after taking back for repairs the one used in Addu. The Indian naval vessel that arrived with the new helicopter docked in Addu on February 29.
The aircraft were used for search operations at sea and for transporting patients from islands in medical emergencies.
A senior government official who spoke to Adhadhu said the Indian aircraft will not be used in the future. However, what would happen to the "technical" personnel sent by India to operate the aircraft is unclear.
The operation of the Indian aircraft is expected to be discontinued due to the air ambulance service introduced by the government and the air cargo added to MNDF.
India has so far maintained on the issue that it has sent technical personnel to the Maldives. When questioned about it, Maldivian government officials said whether they were civilians would be verified. However, how this would be verified has not been revealed yet.
