Maldives says Indian troop figures disclosure after declassification

Declassifying of details pertaining to Indian troops stationed in Maldives during previous government is underway, the Maldives' defence ministry has said. 

The ministry made the remarks in response to a Right to Information (RTI) request filed by Atoll Times on December 19 to obtain the number of Indian troops in Maldives during previous governments for various purposes including the operation of the aircraft deputed by the Indian navy.

In its reply, the defence ministry said the government had earlier classified the information. 

The Information Commissioner's Office has also decided that there is no need to change the decision, it added.

"However, the declassification of this information is currently underway with the Attorney General's Office and relevant agencies. As soon as this work is completed, the declassified information will be disclosed by this ministry on its own initiative," the response read.

President Mohamed Muizzu won the presidential election in September, ousting Ibrahim Mohamed Solih in a runoff after promising to remove Indian military presence from the Maldives.

The new government, which came to power on November 17, has formally requested India to remove its troops by March 15. 

A "core group" formed between Maldives and India to discuss the issue are now working on the specifics.

Maldives has recently said that there are 88 Indian troops in Maldives.

President Muizzu recently hit out at India amid a diplomatic row with the island nation's closest neighbour saying that the small size of Maldives is not a "licence" for anybody to "bully" the country.

The president indirectly responded to the strained relations between Maldives and India when he met reporters at the Velana International Airport (VIA) after returning from his first state visit, which was made to India's rival China.

In his statement, after announcing that he is looking for alternatives on a lot of things Maldives currently heavily relies on India for, he concluded his speech by saying in English, “We may be small, but that doesn't give you the license to bully us."

Meanwhile, a diplomatic row had erupted after Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi released a video of his recent visit to Lakshadweep to promote tourism in the region.

Some Indians have said that Modi's video was released to tell people that Indians do not have to go to Maldives for holidays and can experience the beauty of Maldives while staying in their own country.

Authorities in Maldives have suspended three deputy ministers who have come under fire for their posts on X in which they are seen verbally abusing Modi and India.

The two countries have also summoned each other's envoys over the row.