Indian "civilians" are soldiers out of uniform, alleges Maldives ex-pres

Former President Abdullah Yameen said on Tuesday evening that the civilians brought in from India to man its helicopters are actually soldiers, and questioned why they were still in Maldives despite the island nation now having its own air ambulances.

Following President Dr. Mohamed Muizzu’s pledge to remove foreign military from Maldivian soil, India and Maldives have now agreed to withdraw the Indian troops currently stationed in Maldives to operate Indian helicopters and Dornier planes by May 10.

Instead, a team of Indian civilians arrived in Maldives on February 26 to man these aircraft.

Yameen is attending a series of meetings where candidates with his support for the upcoming parliamentary elections are announcing their policies. At the Tuesday evening meeting, Yameen criticized the government's handling of the situation, intervening in a question posed to one of the candidates.

Yameen said the biggest reason the Indian troops claim to be stationed in Maldives is that they have to fly helicopters for medevacs. However, the problem should be solved as the air ambulance service is now being provided in Maldives, he said.

“[Indian] soldiers don't have to change their uniforms and live here as civilians to fly helicopters,” Yameen said.

Yameen added:

"So, a date should be set right away and everyone who is here to fly the helicopter should be told to leave. They don't have to take off their uniforms and stay here, do they?" Yameen asked.

The Defense Ministry has announced that the team of Indian civilians will take over the operation of the Indian helicopter in Gan, Addu. The Indian troops currently stationed there are supposed to leave Maldives by March 10.

The government has not yet announced the number of Indian civilians who have arrived in Maldives to operate their aircrafts.