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Maldives Crisis Spirals: Indian Tanks, Special Forces on Standby
Besides small arms and mortars, a “few tanks” form part of the 400-600 Indian army soldiers’ weaponry in the event of their departure for Male, the Maldives capital, once the military top brass receives political clearance to deploy for the island nation besieged by its own troops.
The Indian troops, which are being led by a unit of the army’s special forces, remain on standby at the IAF’s Yelahanka airbase since Monday evening after a 15-day state of emergency was declared in Maldives by President Abdulla Yameen, even as former head of state Mohamed Nasheed appealed to New Delhi, seeking military and diplomatic intervention to stem the deepening political crisis in that country. Nasheed, the exiled former Maldives president, heads the Maldivian Democratic Party which functions out of Colombo.
Also Read: Maldives Political Crisis: Why Was Emergency Declared in Maldives?
The SoP and the Objective
If they go in, Indian troops' task would be to:
The sources claimed that even as the assessment of the higher echelons of the national security leadership do not foresee the use of tanks, the defence establishment felt that “abundant caution” required dispatching the armoured vehicles.
The C-17s are capable of carrying heavy armoured tanks, the defence sources said, adding that the Globemasters have sufficient room to fit two tanks per aircraft.
Also Read: Maldives Emergency: Disturbed By The Situation, Says MEA
Maldives Spirals Into Crisis
The decision to keep army troops on standby arose after Yameen declared emergency after that country’s Supreme Court ruling ordered the release of nine opposition political leaders on finding their arrest and trial politically motivated and, therefore, “flawed”.
This led Yameen to defy the Supreme Court’s order before paving way for the arrest of the Chief Justice Abdulla Saeed and Justice Ali Hameed, plunging Maldives into the most serious crisis since Nasheed resigned in February 2012, following opposition pressure backed by a section of the army and the police.
While it may appear that the initial build-up and preparedness would culminate in immediate action on the part of New Delhi, the lapse of a full 24 hours after Maldives slipped into political crisis indicates that the Indians would observe caution and restraint and not exhaust the diplomacy option to resolve the crisis in Maldives.
According to sources, however, the continuing presence of the troops and aircraft at Yelahanka indicates that the Indian political and security establishment have not entirely given up on the military option. Indian military observers feel that the 400-600 troops on standby will be “sufficient” to deal with the Maldives’ armed forces, which is between 5,000-10,000 men.
https://www.thequint.com/news/india/maldives-crisis-spirals-indian-tanks-special-forces-on-standby
Maldives crisis: India on alert, puts troops on standby
MEA says India continues to monitor the situation carefully
The rapidly deteriorating political situation in neighbouring Maldives has put India on the alert. “We are disturbed by the state of Emergency in the Maldives following the refusal of the government to abide by the unanimous ruling of the full bench of the Supreme Court on February 1 and also the suspension of constitutional rights of the people of Maldives,'' said the Ministry of External Affairs, adding that the government continues to monitor the situation carefully.
“The arrest of the Supreme court chief justice and political figures are also reasons for concern,” it said.
The government had, a day ago, issued an advisory against travel to the island country. It had cautioned against non-essential travels to Male and other atolls until further notice and also alerted the Indian expats in the Maldives to exert alertness and avoid public gatherings.
Meanwhile, the Indian military has put troops on standby. The Ministry of Defence (MoD) is gearing up for a potential short time deployment of troops and activated its Standard Operating Procedure (SOP) for any neighbouring country like Maldives. This means that airlift and sealift capabilities are ready to move at short notice.
The Sourthern Naval Command in Kochi, which is the closest to the island nation, is on high alert and readiness. Moreover, if needed, airlift capability that includes C-17 and C-130J Special Operations Aircraft, besides a range of rotary wing options, will also be kept on standby to rescue stranded Indians from the island nation.
A state of Emergency was declared in Maldives after President Abdulla Yameen defied the Supreme Court order to release opposition leaders from jail. The court had quashed charges of terrorism slapped against them. Mohamed Nasheed, the country's first democratically president, who is in exile in London after he was convicted on terrorism charges and sentenced to 13 years in jail, has urged India to take a proactive stand and “send an envoy, backed by its military to release the judges and political detainees.''
Since Nasheed is one of those against whom the apex court quashed charges, he could gain from the turmoil if Yameen is toppled. It could pave way for his return.
Yameen seems to have the support of the military. He has also shown pro-China leanings. India was disturbed late last year when Maldives signed a Free Trade Agreement with China, despite its professed India First foreign policy.
http://www.theweek.in/news/india/maldives-crisis-india-on-alert-puts-troops-on-standby.html
India expected to follow SOP on Maldives, to keep troops ready
NEW DELHI: With Maldives in turmoil+ following a face off between the government and its Supreme Court, India is expected to follow a standard operating procedure (SOP) that includes keeping the troops in readiness, government sources indicated on Tuesday.
India, which said it was "disturbed" over the situation in the archipelago nation, has already issued a travel advisory as part of the SOP but officials would not confirm one of its crucial aspects pertaining to keeping troops on standby.
Sources said troop movement has been seen at a key airbase in southern India.
According to the SOP, the troops are kept ready to meet any eventuality, crisis or requirement for help, sources said, adding there is nothing unusual about such SOPs.
Significantly, exiled former Maldivian president Mohamed Nasheed today sought India's diplomatic and military intervention+ to resolve the crisis in the country after President Abdulla Yameen declared a state of emergency and got arrested the top judge of the country's apex court.
The Indian Navy patrols sea lanes around Maldives as naval cooperation between the two countries are robust.
India had yesterday asked its nationals to defer all non-essential travels to the Indian Ocean nation until further notice.
In an advisory, the external affairs ministry also asked Indian expatriates in Maldives to maintain heightened security awareness.
The picturesque Indian Ocean archipelago, which has seen a number of political crises since the ouster of its first democratically-elected president Nasheed in 2012, plunged into chaos on Thursday last when the apex court ordered the release of nine imprisoned opposition politicians, maintaining that their trials were "politically motivated and flawed".
The nine political leaders included Nasheed.
The Yameen government refused to implement the order, prompting a wave of protests in capital Male, with clashes between police and demonstrators.
Chief Justice Abdulla Saeed and another judge, Ali Hameed, were arrested hours after President Yameen declared a state of emergency yesterday. No details were given about the investigation or charges against them.
Former president Maumoon Abdul Gayoom, who has allied himself with the opposition, was also detained at his home.
https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com...to-keep-troops-ready/articleshow/62809434.cms
Besides small arms and mortars, a “few tanks” form part of the 400-600 Indian army soldiers’ weaponry in the event of their departure for Male, the Maldives capital, once the military top brass receives political clearance to deploy for the island nation besieged by its own troops.
The Indian troops, which are being led by a unit of the army’s special forces, remain on standby at the IAF’s Yelahanka airbase since Monday evening after a 15-day state of emergency was declared in Maldives by President Abdulla Yameen, even as former head of state Mohamed Nasheed appealed to New Delhi, seeking military and diplomatic intervention to stem the deepening political crisis in that country. Nasheed, the exiled former Maldives president, heads the Maldivian Democratic Party which functions out of Colombo.
Also Read: Maldives Political Crisis: Why Was Emergency Declared in Maldives?
The SoP and the Objective
If they go in, Indian troops' task would be to:
- Step in to restore order in Maldives where the ensuing political chaos could lead to instability, in which opposition leaders in greater numbers could become targets of state repression.
- Secondly, New Delhi would, by letting its army launch an operation in Maldives, send out a signal that just as in 1988, it is prepared now to act decisively to go the aid of an ally.
- Thirdly, an airborne and ground operation would establish India's intent and role in the Indian Ocean, besides signalling regional powers such as China and Pakistan that it reserves the right to act in its own self-interest.
The sources claimed that even as the assessment of the higher echelons of the national security leadership do not foresee the use of tanks, the defence establishment felt that “abundant caution” required dispatching the armoured vehicles.
The C-17s are capable of carrying heavy armoured tanks, the defence sources said, adding that the Globemasters have sufficient room to fit two tanks per aircraft.
Also Read: Maldives Emergency: Disturbed By The Situation, Says MEA
Maldives Spirals Into Crisis
The decision to keep army troops on standby arose after Yameen declared emergency after that country’s Supreme Court ruling ordered the release of nine opposition political leaders on finding their arrest and trial politically motivated and, therefore, “flawed”.
This led Yameen to defy the Supreme Court’s order before paving way for the arrest of the Chief Justice Abdulla Saeed and Justice Ali Hameed, plunging Maldives into the most serious crisis since Nasheed resigned in February 2012, following opposition pressure backed by a section of the army and the police.
While it may appear that the initial build-up and preparedness would culminate in immediate action on the part of New Delhi, the lapse of a full 24 hours after Maldives slipped into political crisis indicates that the Indians would observe caution and restraint and not exhaust the diplomacy option to resolve the crisis in Maldives.
According to sources, however, the continuing presence of the troops and aircraft at Yelahanka indicates that the Indian political and security establishment have not entirely given up on the military option. Indian military observers feel that the 400-600 troops on standby will be “sufficient” to deal with the Maldives’ armed forces, which is between 5,000-10,000 men.
https://www.thequint.com/news/india/maldives-crisis-spirals-indian-tanks-special-forces-on-standby
Maldives crisis: India on alert, puts troops on standby
MEA says India continues to monitor the situation carefully
The rapidly deteriorating political situation in neighbouring Maldives has put India on the alert. “We are disturbed by the state of Emergency in the Maldives following the refusal of the government to abide by the unanimous ruling of the full bench of the Supreme Court on February 1 and also the suspension of constitutional rights of the people of Maldives,'' said the Ministry of External Affairs, adding that the government continues to monitor the situation carefully.
“The arrest of the Supreme court chief justice and political figures are also reasons for concern,” it said.
The government had, a day ago, issued an advisory against travel to the island country. It had cautioned against non-essential travels to Male and other atolls until further notice and also alerted the Indian expats in the Maldives to exert alertness and avoid public gatherings.
Meanwhile, the Indian military has put troops on standby. The Ministry of Defence (MoD) is gearing up for a potential short time deployment of troops and activated its Standard Operating Procedure (SOP) for any neighbouring country like Maldives. This means that airlift and sealift capabilities are ready to move at short notice.
The Sourthern Naval Command in Kochi, which is the closest to the island nation, is on high alert and readiness. Moreover, if needed, airlift capability that includes C-17 and C-130J Special Operations Aircraft, besides a range of rotary wing options, will also be kept on standby to rescue stranded Indians from the island nation.
A state of Emergency was declared in Maldives after President Abdulla Yameen defied the Supreme Court order to release opposition leaders from jail. The court had quashed charges of terrorism slapped against them. Mohamed Nasheed, the country's first democratically president, who is in exile in London after he was convicted on terrorism charges and sentenced to 13 years in jail, has urged India to take a proactive stand and “send an envoy, backed by its military to release the judges and political detainees.''
Since Nasheed is one of those against whom the apex court quashed charges, he could gain from the turmoil if Yameen is toppled. It could pave way for his return.
Yameen seems to have the support of the military. He has also shown pro-China leanings. India was disturbed late last year when Maldives signed a Free Trade Agreement with China, despite its professed India First foreign policy.
http://www.theweek.in/news/india/maldives-crisis-india-on-alert-puts-troops-on-standby.html
India expected to follow SOP on Maldives, to keep troops ready
NEW DELHI: With Maldives in turmoil+ following a face off between the government and its Supreme Court, India is expected to follow a standard operating procedure (SOP) that includes keeping the troops in readiness, government sources indicated on Tuesday.
India, which said it was "disturbed" over the situation in the archipelago nation, has already issued a travel advisory as part of the SOP but officials would not confirm one of its crucial aspects pertaining to keeping troops on standby.
Sources said troop movement has been seen at a key airbase in southern India.
According to the SOP, the troops are kept ready to meet any eventuality, crisis or requirement for help, sources said, adding there is nothing unusual about such SOPs.
Significantly, exiled former Maldivian president Mohamed Nasheed today sought India's diplomatic and military intervention+ to resolve the crisis in the country after President Abdulla Yameen declared a state of emergency and got arrested the top judge of the country's apex court.
The Indian Navy patrols sea lanes around Maldives as naval cooperation between the two countries are robust.
India had yesterday asked its nationals to defer all non-essential travels to the Indian Ocean nation until further notice.
In an advisory, the external affairs ministry also asked Indian expatriates in Maldives to maintain heightened security awareness.
The picturesque Indian Ocean archipelago, which has seen a number of political crises since the ouster of its first democratically-elected president Nasheed in 2012, plunged into chaos on Thursday last when the apex court ordered the release of nine imprisoned opposition politicians, maintaining that their trials were "politically motivated and flawed".
The nine political leaders included Nasheed.
The Yameen government refused to implement the order, prompting a wave of protests in capital Male, with clashes between police and demonstrators.
Chief Justice Abdulla Saeed and another judge, Ali Hameed, were arrested hours after President Yameen declared a state of emergency yesterday. No details were given about the investigation or charges against them.
Former president Maumoon Abdul Gayoom, who has allied himself with the opposition, was also detained at his home.
https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com...to-keep-troops-ready/articleshow/62809434.cms
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