President Dr. Mohamed Muizzu announced on Friday night that the second group of Indian soldiers has left the Maldives on April 9.
He made the announcement while speaking during a campaign event for ruling party candidates ahead of the parliamentary elections scheduled for later this month.
"The first team has already gone. Now, on April 9, the soldiers on the second platform have also been withdrawn," Muizzu said.
He added that the soldiers on the last platform would also leave before May 10 and that would mark the fulfillment of his pledge to remove Indian soldiers from Maldives.
He did not provide any details and did not clarify whether the soldiers had been replaced by Indian civilians.
Neither the Maldives Defense Ministry nor India have commented on the matter.
According to the government, 88 Indian soldiers had been stationed in the Maldives to operate helicopters in Addu and Laamu Kadhdhoo and a dornier aircraft in Hanimaadhoo. The figure also includes doctors at the Senahiya military hospital.
The first group of soldiers left the Maldives on March 11. The Defence Ministry said 26 soldiers based in Addu were replaced by 26 Indian civilians.
India also replaced the old helicopter in Addu with a new one.
Relations between Maldives and India have deteriorated since Muizzu came to power while closer ties are maintained with China.
