A recent meeting between the Maldives Ambassador to Pakistan and Afghanistan's Ambassador to Pakistan "was not sanctioned" by the Maldives government, the Foreign Ministry has said.

The office of Afghanistan’s Acting Ambassador to Pakistan Sardar Ahmad Shakeeb said a meeting was held with the Maldives Ambassador to Pakistan Mohamed Thoha to discuss strengthening relations between the two countries.

"The Government of Maldives wishes to state that the recent meeting between the High Commissioner of Maldives in Pakistan and a representative of Afghanistan in Islamabad, was not sanctioned by the Government of Maldives," the Foreign Ministry said in a statement today.

"Consequently, appropriate action has been taken by the Government of Maldives," it added.

The Maldives established diplomatic relations with Afghanistan in March 2006, but it does not recognize the current Taliban government in Afghanistan.

The Foreign Ministry said the Maldives government follows the practice from the United Nations General Assembly when questions arise about the representative character of a government.

"Consistent with this practice, the Maldives recognises the Government representing Afghanistan at the United Nations as the legitimate Government of Afghanistan," the statement read.

According to the office of Afghanistan’s Acting Ambassador to Pakistan, discussions were held on strengthening trade relations between the two countries and ways to facilitate trade for the Maldives with other Central Asian countries through Afghanistan during Friday's meeting.