External Affairs Minister Dr.S Jaishankar Meets Maldivian Counterpart In New Delhi

External Affairs Minister Dr S Jaishankar and Maldives Foreign Minister Moosa Zameer discussed all aspects of the India-Maldives bilateral relationship and regional and security issues in their meeting in New Delhi yesterday. The External Affairs Ministry spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal said both Ministers also looked at several other issues that form part of overall engagement, including capacity building, training, and disaster relief.

Regarding the last batch of personnel in Maldives, the spokesperson said both Maldives and India have been engaged for quite some time to see how best to continue the operation of the aviation platforms. In this regard, Mr Jaiswal said the first and second batch of Indian people who were providing support there have come back. 

He informed that the deputation of the competent Indian technical personnel has taken place and technical people who can operate the aviation platforms have



been sent there. These aviation platforms provide medevac ((medical evacuation) ) and humanitarian services to the people of Maldives.

On sixteen sailors on the ship MSC Aries in Iran, the spokesperson said India is in touch with the Iranian government to get them released as early as possible. He said their coming back depends on their contractual obligations.

On three Indians arrested in Canada in terrorist Hardeep Singh Nijjar’s killing, the spokesperson said Canada has informed India about the arrest.

Replying to another query, Mr Jaiswal said a chartered flight from Dubai landed in Kingston, Jamaica with several Indians on board. He said they had prior travel and hotel bookings but local authorities were not satisfied with them as tourists. The spokesperson said that after due formalities, they were sent to Dubai on the 7th of May.