India deploys naval aircraft in the Maldives for anti-piracy patrols

India has deployed an aircraft to the Maldives to help in anti-piracy patrols and maritime surveillance in the area.

The Times of India reported that the aircraft, deployed to the Maldives as a Dornier maritime patrol aircraft and that it would operate in carrying surveillance of the Maldivian exclusive economic zone and also maintain an anti-piracy vigil in its waters.

The time which India had deployed a naval aircraft is in coincidence with the dates of the SARRC Summit which is to be held in Maldives.

The times of India reveal that after the visit of Indian Defense Minister AK Antony, to Maldives last August, India has sent a warship and a naval plane to perform security roles for Maldives. It also added that the project of installing radar systems in all of the Atolls of Maldives and networking it into the Indian Military Surveliience System is on-going.

The Indian Navy is mandated to be a net security provider to the island nations in the Indian Ocean Region as reported in Times of India. Maldivian government had also earlier revealed that a project of installing radar systems in all the Atolls of Maldives as an on-going project.

India had deployed an aircraft to Maldives for maritime surveillance within a short while after the news of India feeling endangered by China’s increased influence and strategic moves cross this area, was reported in Indian media.

A Maldives National Defence Force (MNDF) spokesperson, Abdulla Ali, had said that so far he had no knowledge of India deploying an aircraft to the Maldives, but he assured that all the neighboring countries will be providing security for the SAARC Summit.