India navy boarding local fishing boats down to "miscommunication", says Maldives minister

Defence Minister Ghassan Maumoon told Parliament that India has responded to the incident where Indian Coast Guard vessels boarded Maldivian fishing boats inside the Maldives' Exclusive Economic Zone, calling it a 'miscommunication'. The incident occurred in late January when two Indian Coast Guard vessels, fully armed, boarded three local boats. The Maldivian government requested an explanation. Ghassan said India's official response attributed the boarding to a miscommunication. However, the fishermen reported that Indian troops checked their phones on the pretext that satellite phones were being used, which is illegal in India but not in Maldivian waters. Ghassan stated that the fishermen were respecting Maldivian laws. MDP MP Ali Niyaz questioned whether Ghassan believed it was a miscommunication, and Ghassan affirmed that it was the official response from a friendly country. MNDF Chief Abdul Raheem had given the same answer during a visit to New Delhi. MP Hassan Afeef confirmed the boats were within the Maldivian EEZ. Ghassan said such incidents would not recur if the Maldives had capability to patrol its waters, and cited the recently introduced drone service as an example of efforts to achieve that.

Defence Minister Ghassan Maumoon told Parliament that India has responded to the incident where Indian Coast Guard vessels boarded Maldivian fishing boats inside the Maldives' Exclusive Economic Zone, calling it a 'miscommunication'. The incident occurred in late January when two Indian Coast Guard vessels, fully armed, boarded three local boats. The Maldivian government requested an explanation. Ghassan said India's official response attributed the boarding to a miscommunication. However, the fishermen reported that Indian troops checked their phones on the pretext that satellite phones were being used, which is illegal in India but not in Maldivian waters. Ghassan stated that the fishermen were respecting Maldivian laws. MDP MP Ali Niyaz questioned whether Ghassan believed it was a miscommunication, and Ghassan affirmed that it was the official response from a friendly country. MNDF Chief Abdul Raheem had given the same answer during a visit to New Delhi. MP Hassan Afeef confirmed the boats were within the Maldivian EEZ. Ghassan said such incidents would not recur if the Maldives had capability to patrol its waters, and cited the recently introduced drone service as an example of efforts to achieve that.

Defence Minister Ghassan Maumoon told Parliament that India has responded to the incident where Indian Coast Guard vessels boarded Maldivian fishing boats inside the Maldives' Exclusive Economic Zone, calling it a 'miscommunication'. The incident occurred in late January when two Indian Coast Guard vessels, fully armed, boarded three local boats. The Maldivian government requested an explanation. Ghassan said India's official response attributed the boarding to a miscommunication. However, the fishermen reported that Indian troops checked their phones on the pretext that satellite phones were being used, which is illegal in India but not in Maldivian waters. Ghassan stated that the fishermen were respecting Maldivian laws. MDP MP Ali Niyaz questioned whether Ghassan believed it was a miscommunication, and Ghassan affirmed that it was the official response from a friendly country. MNDF Chief Abdul Raheem had given the same answer during a visit to New Delhi. MP Hassan Afeef confirmed the boats were within the Maldivian EEZ. Ghassan said such incidents would not recur if the Maldives had capability to patrol its waters, and cited the recently introduced drone service as an example of efforts to achieve that.

This story involves 1 source and may affect public understanding of fisheries / diplomacy.