Maldives, Pakistan sign 20 agreements, Muizzu calls for Saarc revival

Maldives President Mohamed Muizzu's three-day visit to Pakistan has resulted in 20 agreements covering defence, maritime security, trade and other sectors, alongside a call to revive the largely dormant South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation (Saarc).

The visit, from October 20 to 22, was the first by a Maldivian president to Pakistan in 11 years and coincided with the 60th anniversary of diplomatic relations between the two countries.

Muizzu met Pakistan Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar, and army chief Field Marshal Asim Munir. The discussions covered regional security, defence cooperation, trade, investment, education and tourism.

Both countries agreed to raise bilateral trade from approximately $13 million to $200 million within two years. The agreements also cover law enforcement, civil aviation, health, agriculture, fisheries, tourism and technical training.

At a joint press conference on October 22, Muizzu said, "The Maldives firmly believes in the value of Saarc, and in the tremendous potential of our region to address shared challenges through collective action."

He also said Pakistan and the Maldives had agreed to "turn a new leaf, to build a new era of partnership on the foundations of our six decades of friendship".

During his meeting with Muizzu, Sharif shared Pakistan's position on Jammu and Kashmir and the Indus Waters Treaty. However, Muizzu did not publicly endorse Islamabad's position on either issue.

Muizzu also called for convening the next Saarc summit at the earliest opportunity. The eight-member regional grouping has remained largely inactive since its 2016 summit in Islamabad was cancelled following the Uri terror attack and deteriorating India-Pakistan relations.

The visit has drawn attention to the Maldives' strategic position in the Indian Ocean, where India has traditionally maintained significant influence. Muizzu came to power in 2023 on an "India Out" campaign, and his government secured the replacement of Indian military personnel in the Maldives with civilian technical staff in May 2024.

The agreements do not establish a Pakistani military presence in the Maldives, and their operational implications remain unclear.