Maldives National Defense Force MNDF says 5 ships from the Indian navy are currently traveling in Maldivian waters to conduct hydrography surveys as per the agreement between the two countries.
MNDF said that these include a large military sea vessel as well as four other smaller vessels.
It also said that while one of the smaller vessels was currently surveying near Male', the other three are currently in waters north of the country near Haa Dhaalu Atoll, Shaviyani Atoll, and Kaafu Atoll.
The armed forces further said that these vessels were assisting in the development of the navigational charts being compiled by MNDF in collaboration with the Indian Navy.
MNDF reaffirmed that these vessels were only conducting Hydrography surveys.
This comes amid heightened tension over the opposition-led Anti-India campaign that calls for the complete withdrawal of Indian troops supposedly stationed in the Maldives.
Though the government had neither confirmed the deployment, it had refused to reveal the number of Indian troops currently in the Maldives.
