Nasheed warns Maldives dragged into India-Pakistan tensions, calls for Muizzu to step down

Former President Mohamed Nasheed said today that the Maldives has been dragged into the tensions between India and Pakistan, posing a security risk for the country. Speaking at a press conference in Huldhoo, Addu City, as part of the campaign for the Women’s Development Committee (WDC) by-election, Nasheed, who chairs the Maldivian Democratic Party (MDP), said that President Dr. Mohamed Muizzu’s recent visit to Pakistan has pulled the Maldives into bilateral disputes between the two countries. He warned that if India perceives its security to be threatened, it will have severe consequences for the Maldives. Nasheed also criticized the ruling People’s National Congress (PNC) for lacking clear policies or goals and urged voters in the by-election not to vote for the party. He further stated that the government’s decisions are being made without consultation, putting the country at risk, and that the country’s usable foreign reserves are so low that there is not enough money to import even two weeks of goods. He called for President Muizzu to step down, saying the country is heading into unprecedented dangerous territory. The article noted that during his visit to Pakistan, President Muizzu signed 20 MOUs with Pakistan, including in military cooperation, and discussed the Kashmir issue with Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, where Pakistan’s position on Jammu and Kashmir was outlined.