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India says ties with Maldives rest on 'Neighbourhood First' after Muizzu's Pakistan visit
In 60 seconds: India's relationship with the Maldives is anchored in its Neighbourhood First policy and SAGAR vision, external affairs ministry spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal said on Wednesday. He was asked about Maldivian President Mohamed Muizzu's visit to Islamabad, where the two countries signed 20 agreements, including on defence and maritime security. Jaiswal also said India's policy towards Pakistan 'remains unchanged and firmly in place'.
Why it matters
The Maldives sits beside key Indian Ocean shipping lanes close to India's coast. Its defence links with other countries matter for India's maritime security.
Explain it simply
When your neighbour starts buying milk from another vendor too, the old milkman doesn't pick a fight. He reminds the family of years of service and keeps delivering on time.
The 3-minute read
What happened
Jaiswal called the Maldives an important partner and said India wants friendly, mutually beneficial ties with Male while watching developments that affect its national security.
Background
During the 20–22 October visit, Pakistan and the Maldives agreed to raise trade from $13.9 million to $200 million in two years. Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif briefed Muizzu on Pakistan's position on Kashmir and the Indus Waters Treaty.
How it works
The MoUs cover defence and maritime security, IT and cybersecurity, health, police training, fisheries, tourism and air connectivity. Muizzu also met army chief Asim Munir and called for reviving SAARC.
What's next
Watch whether the defence and maritime MoUs lead to concrete projects, and how India's own aid and projects in the Maldives move ahead.
What it means for you
For exams, remember the Neighbourhood First policy, SAGAR and the basic facts about SAARC.
Key numbers
- 20: MoUs signed by Maldives and Pakistan
- $13.9m → $200m: Pakistan–Maldives trade target in two years
- 11 years: Since a Maldivian president last visited Pakistan
Both sides
- The Indian government: Ties with the Maldives rest on Neighbourhood First, and India is watching developments that affect its security.
- Pakistan and the Maldives: The visit opens trade, training and connectivity between two Muslim-majority nations.
Key terms explained
- Neighbourhood First
- India's policy of giving priority to relations with its immediate neighbours.
- Maritime security
- Protecting sea routes, coasts and waters from threats such as piracy and smuggling.
The story so far
- Nov 2023: Mohamed Muizzu becomes President of the Maldives. Mohamed Muizzu took office in November 2023 after a campaign that called for Indian military personnel to leave the Maldives.
- 20–22 Oct 2026: Muizzu visits Islamabad; 20 MoUs signed. Muizzu's three-day visit was the first by a Maldivian president to Pakistan in 11 years and marked 60 years of diplomatic ties. The two sides signed 20 MoUs, including on defence and maritime security.
- Today: MEA: Maldives ties anchored in Neighbourhood First
Exam notes (UPSC, SSC, Banking, PSC)
- SAGAR stands for Security and Growth for All in the Region; it was announced by PM Modi in Mauritius in 2015.
- SAARC was founded in Dhaka in 1985, has eight members and its secretariat in Kathmandu; its 2016 summit in Islamabad was called off.
- Male is the capital of the Maldives, an archipelago in the Indian Ocean south-west of India.
- India held the Indus Waters Treaty (1960) in abeyance in April 2025 after the Pahalgam terror attack.
Likely exam question: What is India's Neighbourhood First policy? Discuss the strategic importance of the Maldives for India.