Pakistan and the Maldives seek stronger trade and security t

Pakistan and the Maldives have pledged to deepen bilateral cooperation in trade, investment, education, tourism and climate change. Ishaq Dar met President Mohamed Muizzu, while Tallal Chaudhry held talks with Maldivian minister Ali Ihusan on immigration, human smuggling and organised crime DPM/FM Dar stresses broader cooperation in trade, investment, education, climate change and tourism Expresses hope B2B engagements will generate concrete trade and investment opportunities Tallal Ch, Maldivian minister agree to promote immigration cooperation and curb human smuggling and organised crime Pakistan offers assistance to enhance cooperation with the Maldives in internal security and law enforcement ISLAMABAD: Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Senator Mohammad Ishaq Dar on Wednesday reaffirmed Pakistan's commitment to its longstanding fraternal relations with the Maldives, emphasising the need to broaden bilateral cooperation across key sectors, including trade, investment, education, climate change and tourism. During a meeting with Maldivian President Dr Mohamed Muizzu, DPM Dar underscored the importance of expanding cooperation between the two countries, the Foreign Office (FO) said in a statement. Dar also welcomed the Maldivian business delegation participating in the Maldives-Pakistan Business Forum and expressed hope that business-to-business (B2B) engagements would translate into concrete trade and investment opportunities. Deputy Prime Minister/Foreign Minister Senator Mohammad Ishaq Dar @MIshaqDar50 called on the President of Maldives, H.E. Dr. Mohamed Muizzu, in Islamabad today. The DPM/FM conveyed warm greetings and best wishes from President Asif Ali Zardari and Prime Minister Muhammad Shehbaz Sharif to President Dr. Mohamed Muizzu. He warmly welcomed the President and his delegation to Pakistan. Reaffirming Pakistan's commitment to its longstanding fraternal relations with Maldives, the DPM/FM underscored the importance of expanding bilateral cooperation, particularly in trade, investment, education, climate change and tourism. The DPM/FM welcomed the participation of the Maldivian business delegation in the Maldives-Pakistan Business Forum and expressed hope that B2B engagements would yield concrete trade and investment opportunities. President Dr. Mohamed Muizzu appreciated the warm welcome and hospitality extended to him and his delegation. He expressed Maldives' desire to deepen its close relations with Pakistan and explore new avenues of mutually beneficial cooperation. — Ministry of Foreign Affairs - Pakistan (@ForeignOfficePk) October 21, 2026 President Muizzu, in his interaction with Dar, expressed the Maldives' desire to deepen its close relations with Pakistan and explore new avenues of mutually beneficial cooperation, according to the FO. COOPERATION ON IMMIGRATION, HUMAN SMUGGLING, ORGANISED CRIME Separately, Minister of State for Interior Tallal Chaudhry met Maldivian Minister for Homeland Security Ali Ihusan to discuss ways to strengthen bilateral relations and enhance cooperation between the two countries, the Interior Ministry said in a statement. During the meeting, the two sides agreed to promote cooperation on immigration and work together to curb human smuggling and organised crime. Chaudhry said Pakistan valued the sharing of experiences and security cooperation with friendly countries to promote regional peace and stability. 'Pakistan wants to strengthen bilateral cooperation with the Maldives in the areas of law enforcement and internal security,' the statement quoted him as saying. وزیر مملکت برائے داخلہ طلال چودھری کی مالدیپ کے وزیر داخلہ علی احسان سے اہم ملاقات، ملاقات میں پاکستان اور مالدیپ کے درمیان دوطرفہ تعلقات اور تعاون بڑھانے پر تفصیلی تبادلہ خیال، https://t.co/Kpm9x4czl9 — Ministry of Interior GoP (@MOIofficialGoP) October 21, 2026 He emphasised the need for coordinated efforts between the two countries to address the challenges of illegal immigration and human smuggling. On behalf of Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi, he also assured the visiting dignitary of 'all-possible assistance' to enhance bilateral cooperation. غیر قانونی امیگریشن، انسانی اسمگلنگ اور منظم جرائم کی روک تھام کے لیے باہمی تعاون کو فروغ دینے پر گفتگو، پاکستان خطے میں امن و استحکام کے فروغ کے لیے دوست ممالک کے ساتھ سکیورٹی تعاون اور تجربات کے تبادلے کو اہمیت دیتا ہے، طلال چودھری — Ministry of Interior GoP (@MOIofficialGoP) October 21, 2026 The engagements reflect continued high-level interaction between Pakistan and the Maldives, with both sides exploring avenues to expand cooperation in economic, security and other areas of mutual interest. Last month, Maldives' parliamentary speaker Abdul Raheem Abdullah met Chief of Defence Forces and Chief of the Army Staff Field Marshal Asim Munir in Rawalpindi. In 2015, former Maldivian president Abdulla Yameen Abdul Gayoom undertook a two-day state visit to Pakistan on May 6 and 7 at the invitation of then-prime minister Nawaz Sharif.