Maldives President urges early Saarc summit during Pakistan visit

President Muizzu's push for reviving Saarc comes as the regional bloc remains stalled due to tensions between member states India and Pakistan. The Maldives leader has made regional cooperation a key diplomatic priority, previously offering to mediate between the two South Asian neighbours to facilitate early high-level talks.

During his Pakistan visit, Muizzu and Pakistani officials signed 20 MoUs spanning several sectors, with particular emphasis on defence and maritime cooperation. These agreements underscore deepening bilateral ties between Male and Islamabad, areas that have traditionally drawn regional scrutiny.

This is not the first instance of Muizzu championing Saarc's revival. Earlier this year, in his independence day address, the Maldivian president signalled his willingness to serve as a bridge between India and Pakistan to advance negotiations toward convening a leaders' summit.

Saarc, established in 1985, has faced operational challenges in recent years amid geopolitical tensions among member states. Regional observers view any fresh momentum toward multilateral dialogue as significant for South and Southeast Asian stability.