“India is closely related to us historically, culturally and in several other ways,” he said (File)
Male, Maldives:
Veteran Maldivian diplomat Abdulla Shahid, the new leader of the main opposition Maldives Democratic Party (MDP), has defended Male’s close ties with New Delhi, stressing that despite the new government’s foreign policy “The relationship with India cannot be chaotic”.
“India is closely related to us historically, culturally and several other aspects,” the 61-year-old former president of the United Nations General Assembly told The Sun Online. He was quoted as saying in the interview held last week that the Maldives cannot ignore Geographical and historical significance of India as an ally.
Relations between the two neighbors have deteriorated since President Mohammad Muizou came to power with an anti-India stance.
In his first presidential address earlier this month, Muizul, who is widely seen as a pro-China leader, said the first batch of Indian military personnel would be repatriated from the Maldives by March 10, and the remaining two aviation platform personnel would be repatriated by May. Withdraw before March 10th.
Shahid, who was elected to the top post without elections last Tuesday, recalled the November 3, 1988 invasion of the Maldives by foreign forces led by Tamil mercenaries and highlighted the role of the Indian Army in resolving the situation and its assistance.
He also emphasized that India was the first ally to assist in the 2004 tsunami crisis and recalled the water crisis in Male, adding that India sent a special plane to transport water within four hours of the crisis.
Mr. Shahid, who served as the Foreign Minister during the term of President Ibrahim Mohamed Solih from 2018 to 2023, also recalled that India was the first country to assist the Maldives amid the COVID-19 pandemic.
“India has been one of the fastest growing economies in the world for the past 60 years. It is also the fastest growing and most populous economy in the world. Therefore, our policies should focus on exploring all avenues available to the Maldives. Shahi Mr De said: “We have benefited greatly from India’s economic progress. “
Shahid also dismissed rumors that his recent appointment as main opposition leader was backed by India. According to reports, several officials in Muizu’s government claimed that his appointment was supported by India.
The new Democratic leader criticized the administration’s charges against him and said the current administration should recognize his ability to achieve what he accomplished on his own.
“People in the government currently in power are using India as an excuse to invalidate whatever I am trying to achieve. At this point, they may even claim that my birth was influenced by India. That is the extent of their narrative rights now,” Shahi Mr. De said.
The Maldives borders India, just 70 nautical miles from Minicoi Island in the Lakshadweep Islands and 300 nautical miles from the west coast of the mainland, and its location at the hub of commercial shipping lanes across the Indian Ocean Region (IOR) gives it an important position. strategic importance.
The Maldives is India’s important maritime neighbor in the Indian Ocean region and holds a special place in initiatives such as ‘SAGAR’ (Security and Growth for All in the Region) and the Narendra Modi government’s ‘Neighborhood First Policy’.
(Except for the headline, this story has not been edited by NDTV staff and is published from a syndicated feed.)
