Pakistan's Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif called for the establishment of an independent and sovereign state in Kashmir during a joint official statement with President Mohamed Muizzu today.
While Pakistan remains a rival to India, India is considered the Maldives' closest partner. Despite the Prime Minister’s remarks regarding Kashmir, Muizzu did not reference the issue in his own statement.
"Pakistan continues to support the establishment of a separate state in Kashmir. The resolutions passed by the UN Security Council on this matter must be respected," the Prime Minister stated.
During Muizzu’s ongoing visit to Pakistan, the two nations signed 20 Memoranda of Understanding (MoUs) today. These agreements cover cooperation in various sectors, including defence, education, and healthcare.
Muizzu assumed office on an "India Out" platform and announced a roadmap to distance the Maldives from India. However, following financial challenges, the President has since made efforts to mend and strengthen ties with New Delhi.
In October 2024, Muizzu visited India to meet with Prime Minister Narendra Modi. During that visit, the two countries signed a strategic agreement outlining the future trajectory of bilateral relations.
As the Maldivian government signed 20 MoUs with Pakistan today, the Indian government has rolled over a 30 billion rupee currency swap for the Maldives. This facility was provided on the same day the Maldives settled a previous currency swap arrangement with India.
