India Says It Will Monitor Closely After Maldives, Pakistan Sign 20 Pacts Including Defence

India has said it is closely monitoring the 20 agreements signed between the Maldives and Pakistan, which include a defence cooperation pact, and will take appropriate steps based on regional interests. The statement came from India's External Affairs Ministry spokesman Randhir Jaiswal during a press briefing, in response to questions about the agreements signed during President Dr. Mohamed Muizzu's official visit to Pakistan. Jaiswal said the Indian government is aware of the agreements established between the two countries across various sectors and is paying close attention to them. He added that India will take any necessary measures considering the region's interests and India's security. However, he did not specify what those measures would be. The agreements signed between the Maldives and Pakistan cover economic, educational, cultural, and defence cooperation. The Indian response follows a joint press conference by President Muizzu and Pakistan's Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, where Sharif raised the Kashmir issue and warned that any violation of the Indus Waters Treaty would be considered an act of war. Sharif said he had detailed Pakistan's principled stance on the Indian-administered Jammu and Kashmir issue to President Muizzu, and that Islamabad would work towards a peaceful solution in line with UN Security Council resolutions. He also expressed extreme concern over India's decision since April 2025 to halt implementation of the Indus Waters Treaty, calling it a violation of an internationally binding agreement.