Indian Navy deploys warships around Maldives for SAARC summit
IRNA - Islamic Republic News Agency
New Delhi, Nov 11, IRNA -- Acting on a request from Maldives, the Indian Navy has put in place a security ring deploying warships around the tiny Island nation, which is taking no chances with the security of assembled SAARC leaders.
India in the past deployed a similar security ring with three warships and helicopters during the 2008 SAARC summit in Colombo.
Prime Minister Manmohan Singh and Pakistan President Yousuf Raza Gilani are among the seven visiting SAARC leaders who will be in Maldives for four days.
'At the request of Maldives, we have deployed our warships including a Beas Class frigate along with vessels of the Sri Lankan Navy around Maldives to provide security to the SAARC summit,' Navy sources said here on Friday.
The warships have been deployed there to counter any threat of terrorists using the sea route to target the summit venue, pti reported quoting sources as saying.
However, they refused to divulge details about the number and type of warships deployed around the island nation, adding the Indian Navy was not 'in-charge' of security arrangements there. Two to three warships are believed to be in the area.
The Indian Navy has also been providing security to Maldives in its anti-piracy operations.
India recently deployed a Dornier maritime surveillance aircraft in Male and has been sending a warship or a naval plane to perform security roles for Maldives in the last two years, with Somali pirates becoming active close to the island nation.
It has also gifted a fast attack craft to the Maldivian maritime forces.
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Islamic Republic News Agen
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