Tag: Indian troops

  • Ultimatum given to Indian Army by President of Maldives to leave his country

    Ultimatum given to Indian Army by President of Maldives to leave his country

    Amidst the ongoing tension between India and Maldives, Mohammad Muizzu, the President of the latter country, has given an ultimatum to India to withdraw its troops from his country by March 15.

    Muizzu, who recently returned from a visit to China, formally asked India to end its army presence in his territory, Abdallah Nazim Ibrahim, the public policy secretary to the president’s office, said at a press briefing.

    According to the latest government figures, there are 88 Indian military personnel in the Maldives. “Indian Military personnel cannot stay in the Maldives. This is the policy of the President and that of his administration,” he said.

    The Indian Ministry of External Affairs has not yet responded to the news.

    Relations between India and Maldives have been strained since the formation of the government of the new President in the island nation.

    Three months ago, Mueez raised the slogan “India out” in the election and demanded their withdrawal from Maldives.

    In a departure from tradition, Muizzu chose Turkey and China instead of India for his first visit, stating that his government reiterated its commitment to withdraw the Indian army from the strategically important region of the country.

    Indian troops were deployed at the request of the then government to protect against the threat of insurgency and the Sri Lankan Tamil Tigers. The Indian troops have been stationed in the Maldives since 1988, for non-combat duties including flying, training, and surveillance.

    While foreign policy experts conclude that this change of policy is because of his tilt towards China, the President has declared, “We aren’t in anyone’s backyard. We are an independent and sovereign state”. Without naming any country, he said, “We may be small, but that doesn’t give you the license to bully us.”

    To read more: Why is Maldives trending on Twitter?

  • ‘We want freedom’: Protests in Kashmir after elderly man’s killing in front of 3yo grandson

    ‘We want freedom’: Protests in Kashmir after elderly man’s killing in front of 3yo grandson

    Hundreds of people in occupied Kashmir staged protests on Wednesday, accusing government forces of killing an elderly man in front of his minor grandson during a gun battle with Kashmiri fighters, which also left a trooper dead.

    The Kashmiri fighters opened fire from a mosque attic in the northern town of Sopore, setting off a battle with security forces, paramilitary police spokesperson Junaid Khan told AFP.

    The family of Bashir Ahmed Khan alleged that he was dragged out of his car after the showdown and shot dead by paramilitary troopers.

    His three-year-old grandson, who was travelling with him, was later pictured sitting on his chest.

    “Locals said that he [Khan] was brought out of his car and shot dead by the forces,” Farooq Ahmed, a nephew of the deceased man told AFP.

    “They told us that someone in uniform then put the child on his chest as he lay dead on the road and took photographs,” Farooq Ahmed said.

    The photo of the child sat on the body of his dead grandfather was widely shared on social media.

    Paramilitary spokesman Khan said the allegation was “baseless”. Police also denied the claims, saying legal action would be taken for “false reports and rumours”.

    “There was no retaliation from the security forces,” Inspector General of Police Vijay Kumar told reporters.

    Hundreds assembled at the man’s funeral near the main city of Srinagar shouting, “We want freedom”.

    Government forces have intensified counterinsurgency operations against Kashmiri fighters since a coronavirus lockdown was imposed in March.

    Since January, at least 229 people have been killed during over 100 military operations across occupied Kashmir, including 32 civilians, 54 government forces and 143 fighters, according to the Coalition of Civil Society (JKCCS), a rights group.