Indian media has revealed Maldives government has made requests at New Delhi, India to return one out of the two helicopters that were gifted by the south-Asian giant's military to the island nation army.
Times Of India has reported with regards to comments from both India and Maldives military that the former gifted helicopter operating from Addu city has its agreement expired.
Following this the Maldives military engaged in discussion with India's military and expressed the island nation do not wish to renew the agreement and thus prefer returning the airborne vessel back to its origin country.
The agreement for two years and has been renewed in continuity after each two years with Maldives state requesting the extension, however this is the first time the island nation has refused to renew the agreement with India.
The Indian government has requested from its Maldives counterpart for a substantial explanation for refusing to extend the agreement for another two years however Times Of India reports that the local government had not responded yet.
As per a high-ranking official of the Maldives government the military is seeking local sea-vessels and surveillance aircraft instead of a helicopter stationed at Addu city.
While Maldives has expressed their wish to return one out of the two India gifted helicopters, the airborne vessel at Laamu atoll is still operational and the government has not made any wishes to return it.
Attempts to receive comments from both Maldives government and military has been unsuccessful so far. But it has been revealed the local government as well as the military has expressed concern over the constant presence of helicopter technicians dispatched from India at local campsites.
The two military helicopters gifted from India are mainly used to locate missing sea vessels and execute search and rescue missions as well as to carrying critically ill patients from atolls to Male' - capital.
