India supports Mauritius' claim over disputed Chagos islands under UK-control

India has supported Mauritius over its claim on disputed Chagos islands, which is home to Diego Garcia -- the key military base of the UK and the US in the Indian Ocean, saying that the process of its decolonisation remains incomplete as long as the atolls continue to be under UK's control.

Presenting the country's stand in the oral proceedings on the matter before the International Court of Justice (ICJ) here, India's Ambassador to the Netherlands Venu Rajamony said the analysis of historical facts and consideration of the legal aspects confirm that sovereignty of the Chagos archipelago has been and continues to be with Mauritius.

Rajamony was representing India in a four-day ICJ hearing, which began on Monday, on the request for advisory opinion by the UN General Assembly in the matter.

Chagos islands came under the colonial administration of the UK as part of Mauritian territory.

An understanding reached in November 1965 between Mauritius and the UK for the retention of the islands by Britain for defence purposes and return thereof to Mauritius when no longer needed for defence purposes.

Rajamony said the legal aspects should root themselves in the historical facts, behaviour of the nations concerned, and the consideration of the issue by relevant administrative and judicial institutions