India to seal defence pact with Maldives

New Delhi, Aug 19 (PTI) Amid fears by Maldives that
one of its island resorts could be taken over by terrorists in
the absence of military assets, India will sign a defence pact
with that country during India Defence Minister A K Antony's
three-day visit there.

The agreement envisages Indian help to Maldives in
setting up a network of ground radars in all its atolls and
linking them with the Indian Coastal Command.

Indian Navy and Coast Guard warships would patrol
Maldives' pirate-infested waters and secure it from terror
threats under the agreement which comes after Male conveyed
its fear to New Delhi.

Antony, who will lead a high-level delegation, will
hold discussion with Maldivian President Mohammed Nasheed,
apart from government leaders and the military top brass.

He will also hold bilateral discussions with his
counterpart Ameen Faisal on ways of expanding military
cooperation between the two countries, a Defence Ministry
spokesperson said Wednesday.

The Defence Minister's delegation will comprise
ministry's Secretary Pradeep Kumar, Armed Forces Medical
Services Director General Lt Gen N K Parmar, Coast Guard
Director General Vice Admiral Anil Chopra and Deputy Chief of
Navy Staff Vice Admiral D K Joshi.

Antony will also attend the closing session of the
India-Maldives Friendship event, besides paying a visit to the
Indira Gandhi Memorial Hospital, the most visible symbol of
Indo-Maldives cooperation and friendship.

The 200-bed general and speciality hospital,
established by India, has over the years provided Maldives
greater self-reliance in the field of medical care.

The two countries share ethnic, linguistic, cultural,
religious and commercial links steeped in antiquity and enjoy
close, cordial and multi-dimensional relations.

India was among the first to recognise Maldives after
Independence in 1965 and to establish diplomatic relations
with the country.

New Delhi's prompt assistance during the 1988 coup
attempt, when Indian armed forces repulsed the Sri Lankan
Tamil military group's attack on Maldives but withdrew after
the crisis was defused, marked a watershed in bilateral ties.

India was the first to rush relief and aid to Maldives
when Tsunami struck the island in 2004.

In April 2006, India gifted a fast attack craft, INS
Tillanchang, to Maldives as a goodwill gesture. PTI