Maldivian President Dr Mohamed Moeizo’s visit to Pakistan and the new agreements on defence and economic cooperation between the two countries have put the diplomatic situation in the region in the spotlight. Some sections of the Indian media have seen this development in the context of regional influence in the Indian Ocean and New Delhi’s interests.
President Mohammed Moeizo is in Islamabad on an official visit to Pakistan from October 20 to 22. This is the first visit by a Maldivian president to Pakistan in 11 years. The two countries are also celebrating the 60th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations this year.
Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif and President Moeizo held a formal meeting and delegation-level talks at the Prime Minister’s House on Wednesday. On this occasion, 20 memorandums of understanding and agreements were exchanged between the two countries to enhance cooperation in various sectors. These include trade, health, education, tourism, agriculture, fisheries, information technology, defence and police.
Regarding economic cooperation, the two leaders agreed to increase the volume of bilateral trade from approximately $13.9 million to $200 million in the next two years. For this purpose, emphasis was also placed on increasing investment, business ties and cooperation between the private sectors of the two countries.
During the visit, cooperation in the defence sector was also prominent. In addition, progress was made on the possibilities of cooperation in the fields of education, technology and training. President Moeizo thanked Pakistan for hosting him and said that it would be important to translate the MoUs into practical projects and beneficial outcomes for the people.
The Indian media also focused on the diplomatic and strategic aspects of the visit. A report in the Times of India looked at President Moeizo’s visit to Pakistan and his stance on the resumption of the SAARC summit process in a regional context. A video analysis also discussed the growing ties between Pakistan and the Maldives in terms of regional relations in the Indian Ocean.
Maintaining relations with various regional partners is important in the foreign policy of the Maldives. India and the Maldives also have ongoing financial and development cooperation, so it would not be right to view the growing ties with Islamabad as definitive evidence of a change in the relations between the two countries. However, high-level contacts with Pakistan and several agreements indicate that the Maldives is exploring new possibilities for bilateral cooperation.
Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif also reiterated Pakistan’s position on the Indus Waters Treaty on this occasion. He said that water is a red line for Pakistan and any attempt to stop water will be considered unacceptable.
Overall, President Moeizo visit to Pakistan is an important diplomatic effort to expand economic and defence cooperation. Its practical impact will depend on the implementation of the agreements, increased trade ties and future cooperation between the two countries.
