Male/New Delhi, May 11 (Reporter) The Maldives government said on Saturday that all the Indian military personnel stationed in the Indian Ocean atoll nation have departed, except for those working as doctors in Senahiya. The total number of Indian troops who have departed is 76. Foreign Minister Moosa Zameer, who just returned from an official visit to New Delhi, told reporters that a total of 76 military personnel had left the Maldives on six dates over the past three months. They were stationed in three locations in the Maldives. A total of 26 soldiers were operating a helicopter in Addu city Gan, 25 were operating a helicopter in Laamu Kadhdhoo and 25 were operating a Dornier aircraft in Haa Dhaal Hanimaadhoo, he said, Adadhu reported. The two helicopters and Dornier aircraft were gifted to the Maldives by India during various governments. Zameer said that doctors of the Indian Army have been working in Senahiya military hospital since September 2012 and the Maldives National Defence Force (MNDF) had requested their assistance. "President (Dr. Mohamed Muizzu)'s intention is to remove them if their presence also affects (the country's) freedom, by requesting the Indian government, but there is no need for it at the moment," Zameer said. The two governments have agreed to bring in Indian civilians, including employees of the aircraft manufacturer, to replace the Indian military personnel in the Maldives. The agreement on the matter has been classified. The Maldives government has also said that there is no Indian military personnel in the Uthuru Thila Falhu (UTF) where the Maldives National Defence Force (MNDF) Coast Guard is building a port with Indian assistance. It was earlier reported that Indian troops in Maldives are stationed in Haa Dhaal Hanimaadhoo, Laamu Kadhdhoo, Addu city Gan, UTF and Senahiya hospital. A total of 76 soldiers from Hanimaadhoo, Kadhdhoo and Gan have now departed. Defence Minister Ghassan Maumoon said on Saturday that the government has no intention of removing the Indian military doctors working at Senahiya and that there were no Indian military personnel in UTF. "According to our information, there is no military personnel in the UTF," Ghassan said. The project to build a port and dockyard in UTF began on May 3, 2023. The project was inaugurated by Indian Defence Minister Rajnath Singh and former Maldives Defence Minister Mariya Ahmed Didi. As India is funding the UTF project, the contract was awarded to Indian Rail Vikas Nigam Limited, an Indian railway company, for USD 186.3 million (MVR 2.8 billion). On Thursday, Indian External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar said the development of ties between close neighbours India and Maldives “is obviously based on mutual interests and reciprocal sensitivity”, during his talks with visiting Maldivian Foreign Minister Moosa Zameer in New Delhi. The visit by the Maldivian Foreign Minister was the first official visit to India by a senior official of President Dr. Mohamed Muizzu's government. The visit came days after the two countries completed the Fourth Meeting of the India-Maldives High-level Core Group in New Delhi on May 3, during which it was agreed that India will replace its military personnel at the last of the three aviation platforms in the Maldives by May 10. The withdrawal of Indian military personnel manning the aviation platforms was a key campaign promise of President Muizzu, who is seen as pro-China. EAM Jaishankar, in his remarks, said the visit of the Maldivian foreign minister “provides an opportunity to discuss our relationship and chart out future directions”...////...