Foreign Ministry has said that India has agreed to expedite the process of repatriation of Indian soldiers in the Maldives.

Senior officials of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Maldives held a high-level meeting with Indian Ambassador to the Maldives Munu Mahawar and senior diplomats of the Indian High Commission.

Foreign Ministry said in a statement on Sunday night that the issue of Indian soldiers was discussed in the meeting.

"Both sides have agreed to expedite the process of withdrawing Indian troops from the Maldives," Foreign Ministry said.

Speaking at a press conference held at the President's Office to inform about the decisions taken at the Cabinet meeting held at the President's Office today, Principal Secretary to the President on Public Policy Abdulla Nazim Ibrahim said that President Dr. Mohamed Muizzu has submitted a proposal to India to withdraw all Indian troops from the Maldives by March 15.

"For this meeting, the government has proposed that the Indian troops be withdrawn from the country by March 15. The government, the President's Office in particular, has presented the following date to the agenda of the meeting," Nazim said.

Nazim said Indian soldiers cannot stay in the Maldives and that is what the people of the country want.

The evacuation of Indian soldiers in the Maldives was a presidential promise of President Muizzu. President Muizzu had earlier formally requested the Indian government to withdraw Indian troops and discussed the matter with Prime Minister Narendra Modi.

The government has said that from the information known so far, there are 75 Indian soldiers in the maldives, which could go up. The exact number of Indian troops is not known as the previous government is in the process of reviewing the agreements signed with India.