Photos courtesy Ministry of Defence
In his first visit to Maldives
after the regime change in the island nation earlier this year, Defence
Minister AK Antony on Sunday assured India’s help in countering the menace of
piracy in the maritime region around the country and also agreed to give
another Advanced Light Helicopter to it.
Antony’s visit to the country has come at a time when the
Chinese establishment has welcomed the new government in Maldives, located south of Lakshadweep Islands. A strong foothold for
China in the country’s backyard does not augur well for India strategically.
Antony met his Maldivian counterpart and Col (Retd) Mohamed
Nazim in Male and the two countries decided to ‘maintain close cooperation in
unitedly fighting against challenges of terrorists and non- state actors’. Indian
Naval warships and one Dornier aircraft have been conducting regular
anti-piracy patrolling for Maldives in its Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ). India
also agreed that the tenure of ALH Dhruv given to Maldives in 2010 will be
increased for another two years. The helicopter has already been had been
upgraded with night flying capabilities during the recent overhaul at Hindustan
Aeronautics Ltd (HAL) Bangalore.
Moreover a team of Qualified Flying Instructors will now be
deputed to train Maldivian Air Wing personnel. In addition, India will also
provide simulator training to Maldivian helicopter pilots at HAL, Bangalore. “To
a request from Maldives for an additional ALH for deployment in the Northern
Province for Medical evacuation purposes, the Defence Minister assured him that
he would try to fulfill this request at the earliest,” spokesperson Sitanshu
Kar said from Male.
Moreover, on a request from the Male’, India has decided to
position an Indian Navy Afloat Support Team at Maldives for a period of one
year to help in smooth functioning and operations of the latter’s fleet and
help in training their personnel for future maintenance operations.
Antony was accompanied by a high-level defence delegation
including Defence Secretary Shashikant Sharma, Western Naval Command Chief Vice
Admiral Shekhar Sinha, Director General Military Training Lt Gen SP Tanwar and
DG AFMS Air Marshal DP Joshi.
Maldives is only 40kms from Andamans & Nicobar islands ???!!!
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