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India-gifted helicopters progressed beyond use: Ambassador

12 August 2018, MVT 12:26
Helicopter ambulance by MNDF / MNDF Kurangi
12 August 2018, MVT 12:26

The Maldivian Ambassador to India, Ahmed Mohamed, has declared that Maldivian facilities have improved to the point that the two naval helicopters, which were gifted by India and operated under the Indian Army primarily to airlift medical patients, have become obsolete.

The ambassador had urged India to recall the two helicopters and the 50 Indian nationals who operate it, by the end of July. However, the spokesperson of the Indian Army has disclosed that both the helicopters and its army force are still situated in the country, further mentioning that India's Minister of External Affairs is working on the operatives whose VISAs have reached expiration.

The government’s decision to return the helicopters comes at a time when relations between Maldives and India appear to be souring, with Ambassador Ahmed further attesting the situation by declaring the recall of the helicopters as a bad omen between the relationship of the two countries. In the wake of the state of emergency declared in early February, entities in India had also expressed concerns over China’s growing presence in the archipelago with the Asian superpower’s increasing investments in Maldives’ infrastructural development.

The two helicopters, which were gifted to the Maldives in 2010 and 2011, are based in Seenu Atoll's Gan and Laamu Atoll’s Kahdhoo respectively. Under the agreement between India and Maldives, the Indian military would handle operations until Maldivian soldiers could be properly trained.

However, no steps have yet been taken to train any officers of Maldives National Defence Force (MNDF) to operate the helicopters.

Ministry of Defense and National Security explained earlier that the government decided to return the helicopters as they could not utilize the helicopters to its full potential in the Maldives, and because India had agreed to provide a Dornier maritime surveillance aircraft instead.

"The helicopters were given [under an agreement] to train Maldivians to operate them, within a certain period. But that hasn't been accomplished. Moreover, a helicopter is not the most ideal vessel for the Maldivian environment."

The official stated that aeroplanes were most suitable for the Maldives. He added that the surveillance aircraft to be provided by India was being delayed due to lacking a parking hangar for the craft.

Meanwhile, the government has also decided to purchase two PAC Super Mushshak aircrafts from Pakistan for military use. They are to be acquired with a USD 10 million loan from the country

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