Maldives ex-Minister Shahid warns Muizzu may revive 'India Out' pitch before 2028 polls
Former Maldivian foreign minister Abdulla Shahid has accused President Mohamed Muizzu of steering the island nation in an "anti-India" direction, days after the Maldivian leader returned from a three-day visit to Pakistan during which about 20 agreements, including on defence and maritime security, were announced.
Mr. Shahid, who is contesting for the leadership of the opposition Maldivian Democratic Party (MDP) ahead of the 2028 presidential election, said he expected Mr. Muizzu to revive the "India Out" campaign that dominated the 2023 polls. The former minister, who served under President Ibrahim Solih between 2018 and 2023 and was elected President of the UN General Assembly in 2021 with India's backing, was speaking to The Hindu in an interview.
"The President is trying to make India the issue again, because for him, he hasn't been able to perform. He hasn't been able to provide any development or deliver on any of the promises, and therefore, come the next election, he will try to create some narrative on hate," Mr. Shahid said. A spokesperson for the Maldives government did not respond to a request for a response to his remarks.
Mr. Muizzu's visit to Islamabad from October 20 to 22 was the first by a Maldivian President since 2015. After talks with Pakistan Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, the two sides announced cooperation in defence and maritime security, combating illicit trafficking and narcotics, information technology, cybersecurity and artificial intelligence, and agreed to begin direct flights between Male and Islamabad. Mr. Muizzu's meeting with Pakistan's Field Marshal and Army chief General Asim Munir drew particular attention in New Delhi. The Maldivian President also called for the revival of SAARC, which has been on hold since 2016, when India pulled out of a summit in Islamabad over cross-border terrorism.
Mr. Shahid demanded that the Muizzu government make a statement in Parliament about the nature of the agreements signed with Pakistan, and called for greater transparency on the memoranda of understanding. "We do not want Maldives to be drawn into disputes within our neighbours," he said. "We must aim for expanding our relationship with everyone who has goodwill to the Maldives, but it should not come at the cost of our own friends, our established relationships."
Asked about the Pakistan visit on Friday, Ministry of External Affairs spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal said the government kept a "close watch" on such developments and would "take whatever appropriate steps may be necessary". On the call to revive SAARC, Mr. Jaiswal said it was "one country", indicating Pakistan, that had "stalled" the grouping's functioning, and that India was keen to strengthen regional cooperation.
The exchange points to the possibility that ties with India may once again become an election issue in the Maldives. In 2023, Mr. Solih lost to Mr. Muizzu's People's National Congress, which ran an "India Out" campaign alleging undue Indian influence in the islands and accusing the previous government of permitting India to build military infrastructure. Mr. Muizzu had also demanded the withdrawal of Indian Air Force personnel stationed at three locations, including Gan Island and Hanimadhoo Atoll, who operated aircraft that India had gifted to the Maldives.
Relations between Male and New Delhi were strained early in Mr. Muizzu's tenure, and he travelled to Turkiye, the UAE and China before visiting India. Ties improved after India agreed to replace the military personnel with civilian technicians. India remains one of the Maldives' largest development partners, funding infrastructure, health and connectivity projects, while China has expanded its own footprint in the archipelago. The Maldives, for its part, has consistently described its foreign policy as one of friendship towards all, and the government has not publicly responded to Mr. Shahid's characterisation of its intentions.
