Maldives president wants to 'increase defence ties' with Pakistan
Admiral Zafar Mahmood Abbasi called on President Yameen on Monday morning
Pakistan\'s Chief of Naval Staff Admiral Zafar Mahmood Abbasi calls on President Abdulla Yameen
President Abdulla Yameen has expressed interest to further increase the defence ties between Maldives and Pakistan, during a meeting with the country's Chief of Naval Staff Admiral Zafar Mahmood Abbasi on Monday.
The Pakistani Chief of Naval Staff is in the Maldives on an official trip, less than four months after its Chief of Army Staff General Qamar Javed Bajwa's three-day visit to the country, when plans to jointly patrol the Maldives' Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ) led to concern from India.
Navy Chief Admiral Zafar Mahmood Abbasi called on President Yameen on Monday morning, where the President highlighted Pakistan's 'continued assistance and support for the development of the Maldives'.
"The President expressed hope and confidence that the Maldives and Pakistan will continue working together on bilateral and international issues of common concern, to further strengthen the close ties of friendship and cooperation that exist between the two countries", said the President's Office.
At the meeting, Admiral Zafar Mahmood Abbasi noted that Pakistan and Maldives 'are two brotherly Muslim nations' and expressed hope 'for continued strong relations' between both countries.
According to Pakistani news website 'The News International', matters of mutual interests were discussed at the meeting with the President expressing 'satisfaction' over the historical bonds and defence collaboration between Pakistan and Maldives.
It said that President Yameen had told the Admiral that he looked forward 'to further increase in defence ties' between both nations while Admiral Zafar Mahmood Abbasi stressed upon the constructive engagements between the Pakistan Navy and the Maldives National Defence Force (MNDF) 'to deal with contemporary challenges'.
Furthermore, in their efforts 'to contribute towards regional peace and security', Pakistani authorities gifted a 'Landing Craft Mechanized' to the MNDF Coast Guard. However, this gift was not mentioned in the article published on the President's Office's official website.
This comes months after the Maldivian government told India to take back the helicopters it had gifted the MNDF. In addition, back in April, Defence Minister Adam Shareef and Pakistan’s Chief of Army Staff General Qamar Javed Bajwa had held discussions to jointly patrol the Maldivian territory. India described this as a 'red line'.
