Indian warships keep watch in Maldives for SAARC

New Delhi, Nov 10 (PTI) Acting on a request from the Maldives, the Indian Navy has put in place a security ring deploying warships around the tiny Island nation, which is taking no chances with the security of assembled SAARC leaders. Prime Minister Manmohan Singh and Pakistan President Yousuf Raza Gilani are among the SAARC leaders who will be in Maldives for the summit. "At the request of Maldives, we have deployed our warships including a Beas Class frigate along with vessels of the Sri Lankan Navy around Maldives to provide security to the SAARC summit," Navy sources said here Thursday. Sources said the warships have been deployed there to counter any threat of terrorists using the sea route to target the summit venue. However, they refused to give details about the number and type of warships deployed around the island nation, adding the Indian Navy was not 'in-charge' of security arrangements there. Two to three warships are believed to be in the area. PTI