Major Shaitan Singh
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Prime Minister Manmohan Singh, apprehensive about a negative reaction in Washington and reluctant to intervene in a neighbour's political affairs, stopped Indian armed forces from entering Maldives during the coup that toppled President Mohammed Nasheed on Tuesday. Indian intervention would have saved the secular government of President Nasheed. The coup against him is believed to have been instigated by anti-Indian Islamic fundamentalist forces, among them elements in Pakistan. The government adopted the path of least resistance, unlike in November 1988, when former Prime Minister Rajiv Gandhi ordered Operation Cactus to stall a coup that would have similarly hurt Indian interests. Indian Air Force mounted special operations then to help the government. India air and naval forces were ready for a similar intervention, but were stopped at the last minute by Delhi. Rajiv Gandhi did not worry about Washington's reaction.
The arguments that favoured caution against intervention included the view that the situation in Maldives was not really a coup, but internal instability within the ruling party, although Nasheed was removed at gunpoint. There were also questions about "assisting whom, against whom". There has been violence and unrest in Maldives since President Nasheed resigned and the new regime headed by Dr Mohamed Waheed, took over. Mr Nasheed has mobilised the pro-democracy groups in the island, and come on the streets. Dr Waheed is believed to have the support of Pakistan and Saudi Arabia.
The United States has described the situation in Maldives as "fluid", and the circumstances under which change of power took place as "murky", while Britain has demanded an investigation into the circumstances that led to Nasheed's resignation. India has also adopted a similar soft approach, although External Affairs officials are now spreading word that the new government has promised that it will not harbour or encourage those hostile to India. There are three interlocutor teams in Maldives at the moment, from the US, UK and India.
A strategic expert told this newspaper, "Police forces and armed forces worked together in Maldives earlier, but now they have separated. The police led the protest against Nasheed, and the military advised him to resign. [As far as the legislature was concerned] there was a coalition in Maldives, and Nasheed had the maximum elected representatives from his party Maldives Democratic Party, so when he resigned all his legislators also resigned with him. The idea was to have fresh elections, which didn't happen, and the Vice President took over." Waheed does not have any elected representatives with him.
US fear stopped Indian armed action in Maldives
The arguments that favoured caution against intervention included the view that the situation in Maldives was not really a coup, but internal instability within the ruling party, although Nasheed was removed at gunpoint. There were also questions about "assisting whom, against whom". There has been violence and unrest in Maldives since President Nasheed resigned and the new regime headed by Dr Mohamed Waheed, took over. Mr Nasheed has mobilised the pro-democracy groups in the island, and come on the streets. Dr Waheed is believed to have the support of Pakistan and Saudi Arabia.
The United States has described the situation in Maldives as "fluid", and the circumstances under which change of power took place as "murky", while Britain has demanded an investigation into the circumstances that led to Nasheed's resignation. India has also adopted a similar soft approach, although External Affairs officials are now spreading word that the new government has promised that it will not harbour or encourage those hostile to India. There are three interlocutor teams in Maldives at the moment, from the US, UK and India.
A strategic expert told this newspaper, "Police forces and armed forces worked together in Maldives earlier, but now they have separated. The police led the protest against Nasheed, and the military advised him to resign. [As far as the legislature was concerned] there was a coalition in Maldives, and Nasheed had the maximum elected representatives from his party Maldives Democratic Party, so when he resigned all his legislators also resigned with him. The idea was to have fresh elections, which didn't happen, and the Vice President took over." Waheed does not have any elected representatives with him.
US fear stopped Indian armed action in Maldives
