Former President Abdulla Yameen, presently under house arrest and serving an 11-year sentence, expressed disappointment upon learning that the government considers the task of repatriating Indian troops from the Maldives to be a formidable challenge.

Yameen, who recently joined the People's National Front (PNF) after departing from his previous party PPM, conveyed his disappointment during a PNF meeting.

In the session, Yameen raised questions about holding the upcoming Majlis voting during Ramadan and sought insight into the government's stance on the presence of Indian military troops in Maldives.

Yaameen recalled the government's initial promise to remove Indian troops and highlighted key events, including discussions with India and the announcement of a deadline for troop withdrawal by March 15.

However, recent statements from government officials, including Minister Abdulla Nazim, suggested the complexity of the matter.

Expressing demotivation, Yameen noted, "This government was elected with high expectations to repatriate Indian troops, but when ministers make such statements, it's disheartening."

During the meeting, Yameen posed questions to his lawyer, Dr. Mohamed Jameel, who addressed the seriousness of the Indian troop issue.

 In response, Jameel expressed concerns about potential loss of public trust if there is no positive outcome and criticized the government's perceived lack of integrity and decisive actions.

It is noteworthy that Yameen, under house arrest, is prohibited from participating in political events.

However, he occasionally attends PNF gatherings, including last night's meeting, where he actively engaged by asking questions.

As a background information, the government has reported the presence of 88 Indian military personnel in Maldives, prompting the Maldivian authorities to request a specific withdrawal date from India.

The issue remains a focal point, with Yaameen and others questioning the government's handling of the matter