Navy on stand-by as Maldives simmers

New Delhi, Feb 9, 2012: As Maldives archipelago remained on an edge Thursday, India has kept its navy and air force on a stand-by should the situation demand any intervention or evacuation of Indians from the country.

 

India has so far played as a neutral party in the developments in its neighbouring island nation but it is closely monitoring the situation as Indians form a large part of the Maldives inhabitants and the responsibility of the defence of the country falls within the jurisdiction of India.  Maldives, a chain of 1,200 islands, is located in the Indian Ocean Region (IOR) around 400 nautical miles from the Indian shoreline and 60 nautical miles from the last island in the Lakshdweep Islands chain.

According to sources, “The Western Naval Fleet, especially the security forces in Kochi and Lakshwdweep islands, is on alert and it will be on a move when the government gives it a go ahead.”

Within hours after the resignation of Maldives president Mohammed Nasheed, India’s Defence Crisis Management Group (DCMG) was activated. The highest decision making body of the in times of crisis outside India includes officials from the Ministry of Defence and the three armed forces.

India and Maldives relation have always been good. When the country got its independence from Britain in 1965, India was the first country to recognize it. In 1988, New Delhi had extended a quick assistance under Operation Cactus when the island nation faced the threat of a coup.

In November 1988 the Indian armed forces went into the archipelago nation after then President Maumoom Abdul Gayoom faced a coup by mercenaries of the People's Liberation Organisation of Tamil Eelam. Within 12 hours of receiving the SOS, then Prime Minister Rajiv Gandhi ordered an armed forces’ intervention. 

Two Indian Air Force (IAF) IL-76 heavy-lift aircraft had flown 2,000 km non-stop from the Agra airbase carrying a batallion of the Indian Army's Parachute Regiment and landed at Male International Airport on Hulule Island.

In 2004, India was the first to send relief when it was hit by a tsunami. In 2006, India gifted a fast attack craft to the Maldives.