MALE: India has completely withdrawn its troops deployed in Maldives, an official from the island nation confirmed.
Maldives Presidential Office Chief Spokeswoman Heena Waleed told media on Friday that the last batch of Indian soldiers deployed in the Maldives have been repatriated.
Indian troops started leaving Maldives in March under a mechanism brought about by President Mohamed Muizzu after he took over the office last November.
Muizzu during his entire election campaign last year had vowed to withdraw all Indian soldiers from the island nation.
The first batch of at least 25 Indian troops stationed in Addu city for the operation of helicopters donated by New Delhi left the southernmost part of the country in March.
All Indian troops are expected to leave Maldives by May 10.
The Indian troops l have been replaced by civilian staff who will manage the two helicopters and an aircraft.
Some 89 Indian soldiers, including 12 medical staff, were also deployed in L. Kadhdhoo and HDh. Hanimaadhoo regions of Maldives, comprising nearly 1,200 islands.
Maldives Foreign Minister Moosa Zameer has confirmed the withdrawal of Indian troops on his first official trip to New Delhi.
Zameer held meetings with his Indian counterpart, Subrahmanyam Jaishankar on Thursday.
In a statement on X, he said both sides exchanged perspectives on enhancing engagement and exchanges between Maldives and India, both bilaterally and at the international level.
