In pictures: Despite new low in ties, India-Maldives conduct joint surveillance exercises

The Maldivian defence force on Tuesday released pictures of two Indian navy aircraft carrying out joint aerial surveillance exercises.

The two Indian naval aircraft are taking part in a 2-day joint surveillance exercise with the Maldives coast guard of the exclusive economic zone.

This comes amid new lows in ties between the two countries with India criticising the government for imposing emergency earlier this year.

India earlier expressed its "deep dismay" over a Maldivian court sentencing the island nation's former president Maumoon Abdul Gayoom and the chief justice of its Supreme Court to long prison terms without a "fair trial".

The Ministry of External Affairs said the development casts a doubt on the Maldivian government's commitment to uphold the rule of law and will raise questions on the credibility of the presidential elections in that country, slated for September.

India has also criticised the government for the reported denial of work permits and visas to over 2000 Indian workers.

The Immigration Department in the Maldives had recently denied employment visas to nearly 300 Indian workers, who were hired by a Singapore-based company working in the Island nation.

There are also reports that the Maldives wants India to take back two helicopters stationed on two atolls because of Chinese pressure China is reportedly preparing to build a port on on one of the atolls, but other reports suggest the Maldives wants two fixed-wing aircraft instead of the helicopters.