Defense Minister Ghassan Maumoon has provided insight into the incident involving Indian troops boarding Maldivian fishing boats within the Maldivian Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ), attributing the occurrence to a miscommunication.

Minister Ghassan's revelation came during his appearance in parliament today, where he responded to inquiries from members regarding the incident that took place on January 31 this year.

Minister Ghassan clarified that the Indian military's operation to board three Maldivian fishing vessels, namely Mahora 3, Asuruma 3, and Niru 7, was conducted without prior communication with Maldivian defense authorities due to a misunderstanding.

He emphasized the importance of a strategic communication protocol between both nations in the event of such operations.

Ghassan stressed that there is an established framework for communication between Maldives and India, and any military operations should follow this protocol to prevent misunderstandings and ensure mutual respect for sovereignty.

According to Minister Ghassan, the Indian military personnel boarded the fishing vessels under the mistaken belief that the vessels were utilizing illegal satellite phones.

While the use of such phones is prohibited in India, it remains legal within the borders of the Maldives.

Minister Ghassan acknowledged that this misinformation led the Indian troops to perceive the activity as unlawful, prompting their intervention.

Confirming the intrusion of armed Indian troops into the Maldivian EEZ, Minister Ghassan acknowledged that the troops inspected the crew's phones and deleted videos capturing the Indian Military's boarding onto the vessels.

Minister Ghassan's statement in parliament aims to provide clarity and transparency regarding the circumstances surrounding the unauthorized boarding of Maldivian fishing boats by Indian troops.