Maldivian President Dr. Mohamed Muizzu and Pakistan’s Chief of Defence Forces, Field Marshal Asim Munir, met in Islamabad to cement bilateral military ties, marking a rare high-level diplomatic milestone between the two South Asian nations.
A Decade-Long Diplomatic Interlude Broken in Islamabad
President Muizzu touched down in Islamabad on Tuesday for a three-day state visit at the invitation of Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif. The trip breaks an eleven-year hiatus since the last presidential visit from Malé, coinciding with the diamond jubilee of diplomatic relations established between the two countries in 1966. State-run Radio Pakistan reported that the discussions between Muizzu and Field Marshal Munir centered squarely on deepening institutional linkages, expanding professional military exchanges, and managing the region's security architecture.
During their formal talks at the capital, the military leadership reaffirmed Islamabad’s commitment to regional stability through constructive defense engagement. Field Marshal Munir emphasized the longstanding and cordial relations between Pakistan and the Maldives, while President Muizzu praised the professionalism of Pakistan’s armed forces.
Pakistan and Maldives Aim to Scale Bilateral Trade
Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif and President Muizzu held a joint press stakeout to announce an aggressive target to scale up bilateral trade from its current baseline of $13.9 million to $200 million over the next two years.
Prime Minister Sharif announced that Islamabad will supply 100,000 olive cuttings and 100,000 seeds to support Muizzu’s ambitious initiative to plant five million trees across the Maldives.
Regional Geopolitics, Water Security, and Diplomatic Solidarity
The bilateral discussions quickly expanded beyond bilateral trade to touch upon contentious regional friction points and international solidarity. Prime Minister Sharif reiterated Pakistan’s firm stance regarding the Palestinian cause, praising Malé for its unwavering support for Palestinian self-determination. The Pakistani premier also addressed the dispute over occupied Jammu and Kashmir, alongside raising serious concerns over India’s decision to place the Indus Waters Treaty in abeyance, labeling any weaponization of shared water resources as a direct threat to regional survival.
Later in the itinerary, President Muizzu was conferred an honorary doctorate in politics by the International Islamic University Islamabad in recognition of his public service. The two delegations are slated to transition these newly inked diplomatic frameworks into commercial reality during a dedicated business forum designed to bring together innovators and investors from both island and mainland economies.
#ISPR Press Release Field Marshal Syed Asim Munir, NI (M), HJ, Chief of Army Staff and Chief of Defence Forces (COAS & CDF) of Pakistan, called on H.E. Dr. Mohamed Muizzu, President of the Republic of Maldives, in Islamabad.During the meeting, matters of mutual interest, the… pic.twitter.com/0vRRqC1wDy
