India playing wider role in Maldives: Mohamed Jameel Ahmed at WION Global Summit

Dr Mohamed Jameel Ahmed, ex-vice president of Maldives in WION global summit said, "Maldives and India are conducting a series of military exercises, India is playing a wider role in the Maldives."

Bhaswati Mukherjee, former Indian diplomat, Kanwal Sibal, ex-foreign secretary, Dr Mohamed Jameel Ahmed, former vice-president of Maldives and G Parthasarathy, former Indian High Commissioner to Pakistan took part in the 'India & Maldives - Emergence of Indo-Pacific' at WION's Global Summit in Dubai on Wednesday.

During the discussion, Bhaswati Mukherjee said: "India's approach may not be as effective as China's approach. China is trying to encircle us by using debt trap of smaller countries." 

"We try for sustainable development projects in countries like the Maldives,'' Bhaswati Mukherjee said, adding,"This is also understood by African nations which is the difference in approach of India and China."

Echoing similar thoughts, Kanwal Sibal, ex-foreign secretary of India said that PM Modi going to the Maldives for President Solih's inauguration and Maldives President Ibrahim Mohamed Solih coming to India was the "first step".

Dr Mohamed Jameel Ahmed, ex-vice president of Maldives said, "Maldives and India are conducting a series of military exercises, India is playing a wider role in the Maldives."

 Mohamed Jameel Ahmed asserted that India has been playing an important role in Maldives tourism.

"After the Tsunami in 2004, it was India which came out with a financial package for the Maldives which was very helpful," he informed.