The government of Maldives has given India a deadline to take back the two helicopters that were gifted to the country.
India has been asked to take back the helicopters before the end of the month. The deals for both helicopters expired in April and the visas given to the pilots operating the helicopters expired at the end of May.
An official from India's defence ministry had said that their visa "were not immediately extended", and that Ministry of External Affairs had to "step in to sort of the issue". Their visas have been extended till June 30.
The Hindu reports that External Affairs Minister of India, Sushma Swaraj had, last Monday, discussed the matter with relevant authorities.
Two Dhruv Advanced Light Helicopters (ALH) were gifted to the Maldives by India back in 2013, one of which was operated by the Indian Coast Guard and the other by the Indian Navy, operated by six pilots and a number of maintenance ground staff.
The two naval helicopters gifted and operated by India were primarily used by the military for emergency medical evacuation and to conduct search and rescue operations overwater.
Long-standing relations between the Maldives and India turned sour after the current administration began casting the neighboring country aside after it called on the island nation to implement the Supreme Court ruling issued on the 01st of February, which President Yameen had brushed off after calling an attempted judicial coup.
