Why Delhi mustn't take its eyes off Pakistan-Maldives, Pg11

Key Highlights:

• Maldivian President Mohamed Muizzu made a three-day state visit to Pakistan last month, signing 20 Memoranda of Understanding (MoUs).
• The MoUs cover various fields including socio-economic development, cybersecurity, drug trafficking, and defence and maritime security.
• Both nations aim to increase bilateral trade from $12 million to $200 million within the next two years.
• The visit signifies Muizzu’s intent to diversify the Maldives' international ties beyond India.
• These developments raise concerns for India's long-term security and strategic interests in the Indian Ocean Region (IOR).

Detailed Insights:

• Maldives-Pakistan relations are historically shaped by geography and shared religious ties.
• The Maldives has traditionally practiced neutrality and advocated for regional integration and peace between India and Pakistan.
• Pakistan has previously supported the Maldives in medical and religious education, and even in the construction of its parliament building.
• Under President Muizzu, the Maldives has increased defence partnerships, signing MoUs with China and Turkey, and procuring armoured vehicles from the UAE.
• The Maldives has also joined the Saudi Arabia-led Islamic Military Counter Terrorism Coalition (IMCTC), sometimes referred to as the "Mecca pact".
• Pakistan views this as an opportunity to challenge India's presence and interests in the IOR.
• Pakistan has advocated for the revival of SAARC and proposed a new South Asian bloc excluding India.
• India's policy towards the Maldives has been pragmatic, using economic assistance such as extensions for T-bills, debt restructuring, credit lines, and currency swaps.
• India recognizes that some MoUs, like those on cybercrime and drug trafficking, could indirectly benefit its own security.
• However, defence and security-related developments, including Muizzu's meeting with Pakistan's Chief of Army Staff Asim Munir to discuss military cooperation, are a significant concern.
• These growing defence ties risk crowding the already complex IOR and bringing Pakistan closer to India’s maritime boundaries.

Key Concepts Involved:

• Memorandum of Understanding (MoU): A non-binding agreement between two or more parties outlining their intentions to work together on a common objective.
• Indian Ocean Region (IOR): A strategically vital maritime area encompassing the Indian Ocean and its surrounding landmasses, crucial for global trade and security.
• SAARC: The South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation, an intergovernmental organization of eight South Asian countries dedicated to economic and regional integration.
• Islamic Military Counter Terrorism Coalition (IMCTC): A Saudi Arabia-led pan-Islamic intergovernmental counter-terrorist alliance of Muslim-majority countries.