MALDIVES – Maldives has slapped India by asking to take back navalhelicopter deployed by New Delhi in the Indian Ocean island chain as agift, a stand that is seen as a reflection of the strained relationshipbetween the two neighbours.

President Yameen, who had received complete support from some countriesincluding Pakistan and China. Over the past weekend, Pakistan Army chiefGeneral Qamar Javed Bajwa also travelled to Maldives, the first foreigndignitary hosted in Male after lifting of Emergency.

News of Maldives deciding to return the Indian chopper emerged soon after.

The move comes weeks after Maldives lifted a 45-day state of emergencywhich had outlawed protests amid political upheaval.

India did issue several statements that disapproved President AbdullaYameen’s decision to impose Emergency. Maldives had responded to suchstatements with sharp rejoinders.

Maldivian government sources said Male wanted its maritime surveillanceassets in Laamu atoll where China has reportedly agreed to build a newairport runway as well as a port, and not Addu Atoll, the southernmostisland.

“There has been no tangible promise from India,” the source said, addingthat there had been differences over the location of the assets too.

The sources said India did not agree with this decision. Besides, Maldiveshad also projected that it wanted a Dornier maritime surveillance aircraftwhich could cover a larger area. Maldives government has suggested thatIndia had agreed to give the Dornier but hadn’t.

India had sent its second helicopter to Maldives in 2016 when he stationedIndian Navy’s Advanced Light Helicopter MK III at Kadhdhoo Island in LaamuAtoll of Maldives along with the necessary staff. New Delhi had thendescribed the decision as a step to further “strengthen the robust maritimecooperation between our two nations”.

But the perception that Maldives, who had a stated “India First” policy,was moving too close to China has led to considerable unease in New Delhi.A free trade pact that President Yameen quietly signed with China last yeardidn’t help build the environment of trust either.