New Delhi, Aug. 17 -- India has kept plans to sell its stake in Mahanagar Telephone (Mauritius) Ltd, the Mauritius-based telecom unit of debt-laden state carrier Mahanagar Telephone Nigam Ltd, on hold as the government moves to preserve its presence on the island, according to officials familiar with the matter.

The company's board had cleared the move to exit Mauritius in August 2024 as part of a wider plan to monetize non-core assets and pay off debt.

The external affairs ministry is not aligned with the proposed sale for strategic reasons, one of the officials said, asking not to be identified while discussing internal deliberations. India and Mauritius upgraded ties in March 2025.

The telecom firm's Mauritius arm operates under the...