Maldives backs India's fight against terror as two sides explore ways to boost strategic ties
India and Maldives on Monday explored ways to boost trade and strategic cooperation even as Maldivian Foreign Minister Abdulla Khaleel backed New Delhi's fight against terrorism.
Khaleel, accompanied by a high-level delegation, is on a three-day visit to India to review the implementation of the comprehensive economic and maritime security partnership agreed during Maldivian President Mohamed Muizzu's trip to New Delhi last October.
The Maldivian Foreign Minister led his country's delegation at a meeting of the High Level Core Group (HLCG) that was tasked to oversee progress in the implementation of the India-Maldives vision document on comprehensive economic and maritime security partnership.
The discussions at the core group meeting focused on ways to intensify political exchanges, defence and security cooperation, development partnership, trade, economy, health and people-to-people linkages, the Ministry of External Affairs said.
Khaleel 'strongly condemned the terrorist attack in Pahalgam' on April 22 and expressed the Maldives' 'solidarity with the people and government of India and its firm support to India in the fight against terrorism in all its forms and manifestations,' the MEA said.
Khaleel also held a meeting with External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar. 'Welcome Maldives' support and solidarity in combating terrorism. India remains committed to Maldives' progress and development,' Jaishankar said in a social media post.
The MEA said Khaleel also thanked the Government of India for 'the timely emergency financial assistance extended to Maldives, which has made a positive impact on the everyday life of Maldivians.'
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