Indian Navy Deploys Warships Around Maldives For Saarc Summit

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[b][b] New Delhi, Nov 11, IRNA -- Acting on a request from Maldives, the Indian Navy has put in place a security ring deploying warships around the tiny Island nation, which is taking no chances with the security of assembled SAARC leaders.[/b][/b]
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[/left] [url="http://img.irna.ir/1390/13900820/30658087/30658087-1887185.jpg"][img]http://img.irna.ir/1390/13900820/30658087/T30658087-1887185.jpg[/img][/url] [left][color=#333333][size=4]India in the past deployed a similar security ring with three warships and helicopters during the 2008 SAARC summit in Colombo. [/size][/color][/left]
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[color=#333333][size=4] Prime Minister Manmohan Singh and Pakistan President Yousuf Raza Gilani are among the seven visiting SAARC leaders who will be in Maldives for four days. [/size][/color]
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[color=#333333][size=4] 'At the request of Maldives, we have deployed our warships including a Beas Class frigate along with vessels of the Sri Lankan Navy around Maldives to provide security to the SAARC summit,' Navy sources said here on Friday. [/size][/color]
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[color=#333333][size=4] The warships have been deployed there to counter any threat of terrorists using the sea route to target the summit venue, pti reported quoting sources as saying. [/size][/color]
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[color=#333333][size=4] However, they refused to divulge details about the number and type of warships deployed around the island nation, adding the Indian Navy was not 'in-charge' of security arrangements there. Two to three warships are believed to be in the area. [/size][/color]
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[color=#333333][size=4] The Indian Navy has also been providing security to Maldives in its anti-piracy operations. [/size][/color]
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[color=#333333][size=4] India recently deployed a Dornier maritime surveillance aircraft in Male and has been sending a warship or a naval plane to perform security roles for Maldives in the last two years, with Somali pirates becoming active close to the island nation. [/size][/color]
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[color=#333333][size=4] It has also gifted a fast attack craft to the Maldivian maritime forces. [/size][/color]
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