The two Indian military helicopters, gifted to Maldives are likely to stay back in Maldives at least for the next few months, India media reports have said.
Maldives had returned one of the choppers in May and had asked India to remove the second by the end of June.
However, after extensive discussions between both sides, the Maldives government had extended the deadline to remove the helicopters till December.
According to official sources quoted by India's PTI, talks between the two countries on the issue had been "positive" and Maldives was likely to allow the helicopters along with the 48 member crew to remain in the country.
"The helicopters and the support staff are not being brought back," a top Indian military source was quoted.
The return of the choppers has been taken as another sign of deteriorating ties between the once two friendly nations.
There have been reports that the Male has been concerned by the presence of Indian navy staff who are stationed in the Maldives for the maintenance of the choppers.
India had reportedly stationed six pilots and over a dozen ground personnel to operate the choppers and also help the Maldivian National Defence Force (MNDF).
There had been further controversy when the visas given to the pilots operating the helicopter expired at the end of May. Despite requests, the visas were reportedly not renewed immediately, causing some concern for the personnel.
Defence minister Adam Shareef Umar had told AVAS earlier that the government had been planning to replace the choppers with a Donier maritime surveillance aircraft. The minister did not divulge further details.
However, according to Indian government sources, Maldives has thus far failed to approve a LoE which Male itself had requested.
Bilateral ties between the two countries had soured after Maldives President Abdulla Yameen Abdulla Gayoom in February declared state of emergency following an order by the country’s Supreme Court to release a group of opposition leaders convicted in widely criticised trials.
