NEW DELHI – India has been snubbed by tiny island Nation Maldives over theissue of occupied Kashmir.
A Maldives link> minister inPresident Abdulla Yameen’s government, had reportedly told a group ofvisiting Indian reporters, ‘Why haven’t we gone into the Kashmirissue…And asked to be (an) intermediary? Because they are internalmatters…India should stay away from our issue.
‘We are independent and capable of dealing with the situation. If we needhelp, we will let India know.’
Reacting sharply, Indian officials had termed the remarks as ‘unfortunate’.
Asserting that the two situations were not comparable, a senior officialhad said, ‘While the situation in Kashmir is due tostate(Pakistan)-sponsored terrorism, the other is due to subversion ofdemocracy.’
Currently, India and Maldives link>havea strained relationship that has been caused by number of issues, includingthe signing of an FTA between Maldiveslink> and China amidst increasingproximity between Male and Beijing, and imposition of emergency by theYameen government.
On why there was an ‘environment of mistrust’ between India and Maldiveslink> , two neighbours that were oncevery close, the envoy said that though there was an understanding thatthere were issues which need to be resolved, but lack of engagement wasresponsible for current state of affairs.
‘The need now is to start with a clean slate and let bygones be bygones,’the envoy stressed, while making a strong pitch for a high-level visit fromIndia. ‘It will make a lot of difference.’
The Maldivian President has visited India twice apart from visits by otherleaders, including the Maldivian foreign minster, he noted.
Mohamed also described India’s strong statement on emergency situation inMaldives link> as ‘disappointing’.
While the initial reaction, including the travel advisory was expected, butthe fourth statement from New Delhi was not expected and Maldiveslink> ‘ ‘displeasure’ was conveyed tothe Indian side, he said.
The Ministry of External Affairs, in a statement, had said, ‘We are deeplydismayed that the Government of Maldiveslink> has extended the State ofEmergency for a further 30 days.
The manner in which the extension of the State of Emergency was approved bythe Majlis in contravention of the Constitution of Maldiveslink> is also a matter of concern.’
India has also been asserting that it was important to ensure that alldemocratic institutions inMaldiveslink> are allowed to function in afair and transparent manner in accordance with the Constitution.