'Frank Conversation': EAM Jaishankar On Meet With Maldivian Foreign Minister Amid Muizzu's Troop Withdrawal Request

External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar on Thursday met his Maldivian counterpart Moosa Zameer and the two leaders had a "frank conversation" on relationshib between the two countries.

The meeting between S Jaishankar and Moosa Zameer in the Ugandan capital city of Kampala came amid an unease in the Maldives' bilateral ties with India.

Jaishankar is in Kampala to attend the two-day summit of the Non-Aligned Movement (NAM) beginning Friday.

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"Met Maldives FM @MoosaZameer today in Kampala. A frank conversation on India-Maldives ties. Also discussed NAM related issues," Jaishankar posted on X.

In a post on X, Zameer said it was a pleasure to meet Jaishankar on the sidelines of the NAM Summit.

"We exchanged views on the ongoing high-level discussions on the withdrawal of Indian military personnel, as well as expediting the completion of ongoing development projects in the Maldives, and cooperation within SAARC and NAM," he said.

"We are committed to further strengthening and expanding our cooperation," the Maldivian minister said.

The India-Maldives ties became strained as pro-China Maldivian President Mohamed Muizzu maintained after assuming charge as the president in November that he will keep his election promise of evicting Indian military personnel from his country.

Earlier this month, a controversy erupted after Maldivian ministers made derogatory comments against Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Indians after he posted a video of him on a pristine beach in Lakshadweep.

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