Shahid defends Indian military presence in Maldives

Minister of Foreign Affairs Abdulla Shahid has defended the presence of Indian military personnel on Maldivian soil.

Speaking on a program at RaajjeTV to mark the 4th year of administration for President Ibrahim Mohamed Solih’s government, Shahid claimed that this administration exercises a policy of diplomacy and harmony with the rest of the world leaders. He said that the opposition accepts no such policy and have been calling to öut this nation and that nation”.

Insinuating the India Out movement spearheaded by the opposition that calls for the removal of the Indian military from Maldivian soil and condemns the intervention of the Indian government in local affairs, Shahid stated that the government is following the example of famous Maldivian Monarch, a true national leader, As-Sulṭaan al-Ghaazee Muhammad Thakurufaanu al-A'uẓam, commonly known as Bodu Thakurufaanu, who also believed in the policy of diplomacy and harmony with other countries.

Despite Shahid’s remarks, Bodu Thakurufaanu had never formulated and exchanged agreements with other nations to allow their military forces to stay aground in Maldives, allowing the independence and sovereignty of the country to become crippled.

In Maldivian history, the only monarch who requested a foreign nation to take the Maldives was the apostate King Hassan. Similarly, Shahid previously expressed concern over the lack of Indian military in the Maldives, on live television.