‘Always operated on agreed procedures,’ says India High Commission on Maldives allegation of unauthorised military move
India-Maldives Relations: India has dismissed claims made by Maldivian Defence Minister Ghassan Maumoon, who alleged that Indian military helicopter pilots in the Maldives conducted an unauthorised operation in 2019. In a post on the social media site X (formerly known as Twitter), the High Commission of India in the Maldives issued a statement asserting that Indian aviation platforms in the Maldives have always operated according to “agreed procedures and with due authorisation." “Indian aviation platforms in the Maldives have always operated as per agreed procedures and with due authorization from MNDF.
The specific sortie on 09 October 2019 referred to at the press conference was also undertaken with the approval of MNDF," the statement said. MNDF is the Maldives National Defence Force.
It added that the emergency landing at Thimarafushi “was necessitated due to an unforeseen exigency, which was carried out after taking necessary on-ground approvals from the ATC to ensure the safety and security of the platform and crew." This clarification follows the recent withdrawal of 76 Indian military personnel from the Maldives, prompted by a demand from President Mohamed Muizzu. Relations between India and the Maldives have strained since Muizzu, a seemingly pro-China leader, assumed office in November 2023.
Muizzu had set a deadline of May 10 for the removal of Indian military troops from the country. The final group of Indian personnel left the Maldives on deadline as agreed upon in February in New Delhi.
In a press conference on May 11, Maumoon recounted an incident where one of two helicopters operated by Indian military personnel in the Maldives landed in Thimarafushi without permission. He stated that the incident was
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