India, May 5 -- In line with India's commitment towards regional cooperation, INS Sharda arrived at Maafilaafushi Atoll, Maldives, for a Humanitarian Assistance and Disaster Relief (HADR) exercise planned from May 4 to May 10.

"This deployment is a testament to the strong defence and maritime cooperation between India and the Maldives," read a statement issued by the Ministry of Defence.

The Ministry said the deployment aligns with India's "MAHASAGAR" (Mutual and Holistic Advancement for Security and Growth Across Regions) vision, emphasising collaborative efforts to ensure peace, stability, and prosperity in the Indian Ocean Region.

"It will focus on actions like Disaster Response Coordination, Search and Rescue Operations, Medical As...