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India says it is closely monitoring developments involving the Maldives and Pakistan while reaffirming its commitment to friendly relations with Maldives following President Muizzu’s visit to Islamabad.
Mariyam Adheela
Indian Ministry of External Affairs spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal
NEW DELHI: India is closely monitoring developments involving the Maldives and Pakistan, Indian Ministry of External Affairs spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal said during the ministry’s bi-weekly media briefing.
Jaiswal was responding to a journalist’s question about President Dr Mohamed Muizzu’s recent visit to Pakistan, during which around 20 agreements were reportedly signed between the two countries.
The journalist also referred to comments by former Maldivian President Mohamed Nasheed regarding the visit and asked how India viewed the Maldives’ engagement with Pakistan.
Jaiswal described the Maldives as an important partner under India’s Neighbourhood First policy and Vision MAHASAGAR initiative.
He said India remained committed to advancing friendly relations and fostering mutually beneficial ties with the Maldives in a manner that serves the interests of both countries.
Addressing the other developments mentioned in the question, Jaiswal said India was keeping a close and careful watch on events.
He added that India remained committed to taking whatever measures were necessary to safeguard its national security.
During President Muizzu’s visit to Islamabad, Pakistani Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif raised Pakistan’s position on the Kashmir dispute and criticised India’s decision to place the Indus Waters Treaty in abeyance.
India maintains that Jammu and Kashmir and Ladakh are integral parts of India and rejects Pakistan’s claims over the region. The Indus Waters Treaty governs the sharing of the Indus river system’s waters between India and Pakistan.
President Muizzu, meanwhile, highlighted regional cooperation and expressed the Maldives’ readiness to work with South Asian countries to strengthen engagement and facilitate future meetings of the South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation (SAARC).
President Muizzu did not publicly respond to Sharif’s remarks on India, Kashmir or the Indus Waters Treaty during the joint press briefing.
