New Delhi, May 3 (Reporter) India will replace its military personnel at the last of the three aviation platforms in the Maldives by May 10, the two sides agreed during the Fourth Meeting of the India-Maldives High-level Core Group held in New Delhi today. While the Indian statement did not mention this detail, the Maldives Foreign Ministry put out the statement regarding replacement of the Indian personnel. It said that during the discussions held at MEA, “both sides reviewed the existing bilateral cooperation. Discussions were held on a wide range of issues of mutual interest, including development and defence cooperation. “Both sides noted with satisfaction that the Government of India will replace military personnel at the last of the three aviation platforms by 10 May and all the logistical arrangements are going ahead as per schedule,” it added. “It was further agreed that the fifth meeting of the High-Level core Group will be held in Male’ on a mutually agreeable date during the month of June/July.” In February, the Maldives Foreign Ministry had said that India will replace its military personnel operating the three aviation platforms in the Maldives by May 10. Today’s development comes as Maldives Foreign Minister Moosa Zameer is scheduled to visit India next week. Zameer is to arrive in India on May 9, in the first official visit to India by a senior official of President Dr. Mohamed Muizzu's government, Adhadhu reported. The Indian statement said that during the meeting today, the two sides “continued their discussions on wide ranging issues related to bilateral cooperation. This included defence cooperation, development cooperation projects, efforts to enhance bilateral trade and investment, and capacity building initiatives.” “During the meeting, both sides also reviewed the ongoing efforts to enable continued operation of Indian aviation platforms that provide humanitarian and medvac services to the people of Maldives.” “It was agreed to hold the next meeting of the High Level Core Group in Male on a mutually convenient date.” India and Maldives had decided to set up the core group following a meeting between Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Muizzu on the sidelines of the COP28 summit in Dubai in December last year. The withdrawal of Indian personnel manning the aviation platforms was a key campaign promise of President Muizzu, who is widely seen as pro-China. India-Maldives relations have been choppy since the government of President Muizzu took office...////...