President Dr. Mohamed Muizzu has informed India to withdraw the troops stationed in the Maldives by the middle of March.
At a press briefing held at the President's Office just now, Principal Secretary to the President on Public Policy Abdulla Nazim Ibrahim said that 11 meetings have been held between the two countries on the matter and the 12th meeting was currently ongoing in the Foreign Minister.
Nazim said that a high-level delegation from India with visiting officials is taking part in the talks and that the Maldivian delegation includes top officials from the Foreign Ministry and the Defense Ministry.
He said that President Muizzu has informed the Maldivian delegation to convey to the Indian delegation that its troops must be withdrawn by the 15th of March.
Nazim said that these talks are evidence that the government wants to move ahead with the withdrawal of Indian troops in a civilized and diplomatic matter without endangering the relationship between the two countries.
He also said that the 12th meeting is expected to go on till late afternoon.
President Dr. Mohamed Muizzu requested India to withdraw his troops days after coming into power on November 17th. The government said that there are 88 India soldiers stationed in the Maldives.
