The Maldives has set March 15 as the deadline for India to withdraw its military personnel stationed in the archipelago.

President Mohamed Muizzu’s office announced the date after the first meeting on Sunday morning of the core group of officials from both countries tasked to resolve differences.

On Saturday, Muizzu had indicated that from March 1, the choppers and the Dornier aircraft gifted by India would not be used to ferry the ailing and the injured between the various atolls.

Most of the Indian military personnel stationed in the atoll nation are assigned to service and operate the choppers and the Dornier.

Muizzu did not name India but it was clear that he was referring to the choppers and the Dornier, gifted by the Manmohan Singh and Narendra Modi governments, respectively.

After his return from a five-day state visit to China, Muizzu had said: “An air ambulance will hopefully start flying on March 1 to carry patients in medical emergencies. Not a helicopter, not a Dornier. Our (Maldivian) Dash 8 aircraft is already being prepared for it.”

Briefing reporters about the core group meeting, Abdulla Nazim Ibrahim, public policy secretary in the President’s office, said Muizzu had formally asked India to withdraw its military personnel from the Maldives by March 15.

“Indian military personnel cannot stay in the Maldives. This is the policy of President Dr Mohamed Muizzu and that of this administration,” Ibrahim said, according to Sun Online.

India did not respond immediately to the announcement but the external affairs ministry issued a statement on the meeting of the India-Maldives high-level core group.

“Both sides also held discussions on finding mutually workable solution to enable continued operation of Indian aviation platforms that provide humanitarian and medvac services to the people of Maldives,” it said.

Also, according to the statement, both sides held discussions on a wide range of issues, including speeding up the implementation of ongoing development cooperation projects. It was also decided that the next meeting of the core group would be held in India.

Some 88 Indian military personnel are stationed in the Maldives, according to Maldivian newspapers.

Muizzu had sought the removal of the troops on the day he assumed office in November, having won the presidential election riding an “India Out” slogan.

In his first speech after winning the elections in October, he had said that this would be his first order of business.