Days after Maldives President Mohamed Muizzu visited Pakistan for a bilateral visit that yielded many agreements, the former Foreign Minister of Maldives, Abdulla Shahid, accused him of moving in an “anti- India ” direction.
Shahid, who is running for the leadership of the opposition Maldivian Democratic Party (MDP) ahead of the Presidential elections in 2028, alleged that Mr. Shahid, who was Foreign Minister during the tenure of the previous President Ibrahim Solih (2018-2023) and won a term as the President of the UN General Assembly with India’s support in 2021, told The Hindu in an interview here. Shahid called for more transparency about 20 MoUs signed between the Maldives and Pakistan when President Muizzu went on a three-day visit to Islamabad from October 20 to 22, the first such visit by a Maldives President since 2015. Muizzu also called for the revival of SAARC, on hold since 2016 when India pulled out of the summit in Islamabad over cross-border terrorism. In June 2024, a month after the final batch of 89 Indian personnel had been withdrawn, Mr. Muizzu visited India to attend Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s swearing-in ceremony, and then returned in October 2024 for a bilateral visit, when India offered the Maldives several economic support measures, including a currency swap agreement to help Maldives avoid a debt failure.
Muizzu and Pakistan Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, the two sides announced agreements in a number of areas, including defence and maritime security, combating illicit trafficking and narcotics, information technology, cybersecurity and AI. Because for him, he hasn’t been able to perform, muizzu] is trying to make India the issue again,. He hasn’t been able to provide any development or deliver on any of the promises, and therefore, come next election again, he will try to create some narrative on hate,” Mr.
Mr. “The President [Mr. Mr. After talks between Mr. They agreed to start direct flights between Male and Islamabad. In particular, Mr. Muizzu’s meeting with Pakistan’s Field Marshal and Army chief General Asim Munir had raised eyebrows in Delhi. Mr. Mr. Shahid’s comments to The Hindu indicate that ties with India may once again become an issue in the Maldivian elections. Mr. Muizzu, against what he alleged was undue Indian influence in the island chain, especially accusing the Solih government of allowing India to build military bases in infrastructure projects that India had constructed.
Muizzu, who has had a cordial relationship with New Delhi for most of his tenure, would revive the “India Out” campaign of 2023. Solih lost the elections in 2023 due to the “India Out” campaign of the People’s National Congress (PNC), led by Mr.
Mr. Shahid, who is standing for the primary elections in the MDP next year, is expected to face some tough competition from his other former colleagues in the cabinet as well, including former Economic Minister Fayyaz Ismail, who has the backing of the current MDP chief and former Maldivian President Mohamed Nasheed. Mr. Shahid and Mr. Solih were rivals of Mr. Nasheed during the previous government, but the opposition has come together within the MDP in order to fight against the ruling PNC.
