Former Maldives Minister Calls President Muizzu’s Assertion on Indian Troops ‘Falsehoods’

Former Maldivian Foreign Affairs Minister Abdulla Shahid asserted on Saturday that President Mohamed Muizzu’s claims regarding “thousands of Indian military personnel” were deceitful, emphasizing that there are no foreign armed soldiers stationed in the country. Taking to his social media platform X, the newly elected president of the Maldivian Democratic Party denounced Muizzu’s assertions as part of a pattern of falsehoods. “100 days in, it’s evident: President Muizzu’s assertions of ‘thousands of Indian military personnel’ were yet another fabrication. The current administration’s failure to provide concrete figures speaks volumes. There is no presence of armed foreign soldiers in the nation,” he affirmed.

Shahid stressed the importance of transparency and the necessity for truth to prevail. “Transparency is crucial, and the truth must triumph,” he asserted.

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Notably, the withdrawal of Indian troops from the Maldives was a key campaign promise of Muizzu’s party. Presently, approximately 70 Indian troops, alongside Dornier 228 maritime patrol aircraft and two HAL Dhruv helicopters, are stationed in the Maldives.

On the second day of assuming office, Muizzu officially requested the Indian government to withdraw its military personnel from the Maldives.

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In December of the previous year, Muizzu stated that, following discussions with the Indian government, an agreement had been reached for the withdrawal of Indian military personnel.

The president also disclosed that diplomatic negotiations were ongoing for the withdrawal of Indian troops. He outlined that, as per the terms agreed upon in the latest negotiations, military personnel at one of the three aviation platforms would be withdrawn by March 10, 2024, and those at the remaining two platforms would be withdrawn by May 10, 2024. Earlier this month, the Ministry of External Affairs announced that India would replace military personnel at aviation platforms in the Maldives with skilled Indian technical personnel.