The Maldivian government has renewed its agreement with India to operate the two naval helicopters gifted by the latter to Maldives.
Maldives National Defence Force (MNDF) announced late Friday that helicopter operations have resumed following the contract renewal.
The military revealed that the helicopters were used this weekend to airlift patients from various regions to capital Male' City. According to a tweet posted on MNDF's official account, an 81-year-old patient was carried from Muli Regional Hospital in Meemu Atoll to Male' on Saturday morning.
While the administration of President Ibrahim Mohamed Solih has renewed the helicopter agreement, former President Abdulla Yameen Abdul Gayoom's government had ordered India to take back the helicopters amidst strained relations between the two neighbouring nations during the previous regime.
Public opinion on the helicopters is also divided over the presence of Indian army officers stationed in Maldives to operate and maintain the helicopters. While the previous government had stated that Maldives' agreement with India included training local soldiers to fly and take over helicopter operations, no such training has been provided to date.
The helicopters are used to airlift patients during medical emergencies, and in Search and Rescue missions. India provided the helicopters during former President Mohamed Nasheed's administration in 2010, following which his successors, Mohamed Waheed and Abdulla Yameen, also signed the agreement.
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