Maldives dismisses India land lease letter as fake
The Maldivian foreign ministry said the letter is "forged" and its contents are "fabricated".
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Maldivian government and the Indian embassy in Male on Thursday dismissed as "fake" a letter leaked on social media, allegedly from the Indian external affairs minister S. Jaishankar to his Maldivian counterpart Abdulla Shahid on the lease of land from Maldives to India under an agreement between the two countries to develop MNDF Coastguard harbour at Uthuru Thilafalhu (UTF).
According to the leaked letter:
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In addition to the currently arranged supply of one Unmanned Aerial Vehicle (UAV), a facility will be provided to supplement the aircraft with 11 more through an additional $550 million line of credit issued by the India Exim Bank
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The UAVs will be operated by MNDF personnel as per their capability and the provisions of existing agreements
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In order to provide training, development, and continued enhanced support of the MNDF's capabilities, Maldives will lease 15 hectares in HDh. Hanimaadhoo and Addu Gan to India for 99 years "upon our sovereign domain" and renewable
In a post on X, the Maldivian foreign ministry said the letter is "forged" and its contents are "fabricated".
"The ministry condemns this act, that is aimed at disrupting bilateral relationship with a close partner. The ministry urges media personnel to act more responsibly, in line with journalistic standards and ethics," the post read.
The Indian high commission, in a separate post on X, "unequivocally reject and condemn this malicious attempt to malign and disturb the India-Maldives relations".
