Government is not liking the way many television outlets are engaged in Maldives bashing.
The media outrage may be detrimental to diplomacy, reliable sources in the government told Worldview Live. The sources in the government said that in Maldives around 30 thousand Indians are working in different professions. While they earn money, they are also important for Maldives development.
“So we need to be very cautious,” he said adding that the way some Indian television channels are shouting in provocative language, it would be difficult to handle diplomacy. “In any case, if Maldives faces any crisis, we will have to be the first responder, because we are the closest neighbour,” he said. He said that India is talking to Maldives and will keep talking. He said that Maldives is not a terrorist state like Pakistan. They have some political situations, and it will be stable in days to come. “People should let diplomacy work in Maldives,” the sources added.
“Maldives is one of the most important countries for India for strategic reasons. While it is part of our Indo-pacific strategy, its location in the high sea is vital for us,” the sources said.
Observers believe that neighboring countries too prioritize their political interests and domestic electorate. Therefore, it is advisable not to engage in a competition of outshouting, either through media or social media, particularly with our smaller neighbors. This approach aligns with our longstanding policy of ‘neighborhood first,’ which has been in place for decades and remains current. They say diplomacy will find a way out, and Indian diplomats are good at it.
