Maldives president, CDF Munir stress importance of strengthening defence cooperation

Chief of Defence Forces (CDF) and Chief of the Army Staff Field Marshal Asim Munir and visiting Maldivian President Dr Mohamed Muizzu underscored the importance of strengthening bilateral defence cooperation on Wednesday, state-run Radio Pakistan reported.

Muizzu arrived in Islamabad on Tuesday on a three-day visit at the invitation of Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif. The visit marks the first by a Maldivian president to Pakistan in 11 years, and comes as the two countries celebrate the 60th anniversary of their diplomatic relations, established in 1966.

CDF Munir called on the visiting president in Islamabad, where the two leaders discussed matters of mutual interest, the prevailing regional security environment, and avenues for enhancing bilateral cooperation, the Radio Pakistan report said.

“Both sides underscored the importance of strengthening defence cooperation, institutional linkages and professional exchanges,” it added.

The CDF highlighted the “longstanding and cordial relations” between the two countries. He reaffirmed Pakistan’s commitment to further strengthening bilateral cooperation and promoting peace, stability and security in the region through constructive engagement, Radio Pakistan said.

It added that President Muizzu commended the professionalism of Pakistan’s armed forces and appreciated the country’s continued efforts to promote regional peace and stability.

PM Shehbaz vows strengthening of bilateral relations

Earlier, PM Shehbaz vowed to strengthen bilateral relations with the Maldives, as the two countries signed 20 memorandums of understanding (MoUs).

Addressing a joint press stakeout following the signing of 20 wide-ranging MoUs, PM Shehbaz said, “There is no doubt that the two countries [will] keep on strengthening these relations for all time to come.”

The premier extended a “very warm welcome” to the visiting dignitary and his delegation.

PM Shehbaz expressed his “warmest greetings and heartfelt affection to the people of Dhivehi Raajje, the land of islands, a nation whose spirit is as vast as the ocean that surrounds it,” hailing 60 years of diplomatic ties between the two countries.

The prime minister noted that he and Muizzu, in their bilateral and delegation-level talks, discussed “all important issues which have direct bearing between our two brotherly countries and of course, regional and international issues”.

“I am very happy to announce that we had a wonderful session, very productive and very fruitful discussions,” he remarked.

PM Shehbaz noted that the conversations encompassed “economic and trade relations, our strategic defence cooperation, our support for training of our brothers and sisters from Maldives in Pakistan in various walks of life; police, defence, education, health and many other” fields.

The prime minister went on to announce that both sides had agreed to raise their bilateral trade from $13.9 million — “just a fraction of our potential” — to $200m in the next two years.

Highlighting that the two South Asian countries had “very strong” relations, coupled with a “long list of mutual achievements”, PM Shehbaz said both sides noted that their ties “do not reflect the true strength of our economic cooperation”.

Thanking Muizzu for his “personal support in this behalf”, the premier went on to announce that Islamabad would support Malé in promoting the plantation of 5m trees in the Maldives by providing 100,000 olive cuttings and 100,000 seeds of various plant species within a mutually decided timeframe.

Referring to the MoUs signed, he affirmed that he “will be very happy to personally work with [Muizzu] to translate these written MoUs into action with prompt decision-making and speedy implementation”.

The prime minister declared that Pakistan was “absolutely ready to provide technical expertise to various segments of our mutual cooperation and, above all, Pakistan is very happy to learn that Maldives is moving forward speedily to establish data centres in other places”.

“This is great news, and as a matter of good luck, Pakistan has also attained a reasonable level of expertise and professional capability in this field,” he added, noting that the country had set up data centres in various locations. He offered Pakistan’s “experience and our professional capabilities in this behalf” to the Maldives.

PM Shehbaz noted that a large number of Maldivian students were receiving education in Pakistani universities and colleges, particularly in the field of healthcare, and that 250 Pakistani doctors and other paramedics were serving in the Maldives.

“This shall continue in future with bigger numbers so that whatever requirements you have, we as a brotherly country would be more than happy to fulfil those requirements willingly and with utmost sincerity of purpose,” the prime minister said.

Speaking on international developments, PM Shehbaz commended the Maldives’ “unwavering” support for the Palestinian cause, adding that Islamabad remains fully committed to the Palestinians’ right of self-determination and the establishment of an independent state of Palestine.

The premier further said he briefed Muizzu on Pakistan’s principled position on occupied Jammu and Kashmir, declaring Islamabad’s support for a peaceful resolution of the dispute in accordance with the relevant United Nations Security Council resolutions.

“Till........

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