Amb. Waheed Ahmad (Former Diplomat):It is very good development that Pakistan and Maldives have strong resolve to diversify bilateral trade and economic cooperation. MoUs signed between Pakistan and Maldives are very useful and beneficial for Maldivians. Maldives has turned to have bilateral cooperation with Pakistan; previously, Maldives used to seek cooperation through SAARC platform. At present political leadership of both the countries has provided framework for bilateral trade and economic cooperation. Now it is up to business communities and chambers of commerce to benefit from this framework. Business communities of both sides need to have pragmatic and proactive approach along with workable plan to enhance bilateral economic and trade cooperation. In the past, Maldives have been looking towards ASEAN and SAARC for economic and trade cooperation over the decades. India has been trying to keep Maldives under Indian shadow by pressuring Maldives on various issues like a client state. On the other end, Pakistan has always been pursuing cordial relations with Maldives on equal terms. Pakistan also respected territorial sovereignty and integrity of Maldives. Visit of Maldives President Dr. Mohamed Muizzu to Pakistan is first visit of any Maldivian president in last eleven years. This visit is also significant because India has been restricting Maldives from having relations with Pakistan. At present, all the neighours of India are having difficult times to have ties with Indian leadership’s myopic insight. Indian leadership is trying to bully neighbours like a master. In the background of prevailing regional and international security situation, visit of Maldives President Dr. Mohamed Muizzu to Pakistan is very significant. Indians have deliberately put activities of SAARC and made the organization a dead platform. This situation has created a lot of problems for the SAARC members.