Former Maldivian Minister Shahid Accuses President Muizzu of Reviving Anti-India Narrative

Days after Maldivian President Mohamed Muizzu's bilateral visit to Pakistan, former Foreign Minister Abdulla Shahid accused him of moving in an "anti-India" direction. Shahid, who is running for the leadership of the opposition Maldivian Democratic Party (MDP) ahead of the 2028 presidential elections, alleged that Mr. Muizzu, despite a cordial relationship with New Delhi for most of his tenure, would revive the "India Out" campaign of 2023, according to The Hindu.

In an interview with The Hindu, Mr. Shahid stated, "The President [Mr. Muizzu] 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 next election again, he will try to create some narrative on hate." Mr. Shahid served as Foreign Minister during former President Ibrahim Solih's tenure (2018-2023) and was President of the UN General Assembly in 2021 with India's support.

The Maldivian government spokesperson did not respond to a request for comment on Mr. Shahid’s remarks. Shahid called for greater transparency regarding the 20 MoUs signed between the Maldives and Pakistan during President Muizzu's three-day visit to Islamabad from October 20 to 22. This visit marked the first by a Maldivian President since 2015. Agreements were announced in various sectors, including defence, maritime security, combating illicit trafficking and narcotics, information technology, cybersecurity, and AI. Direct flights between Male and Islamabad were also agreed upon.

Of particular concern in Delhi was Mr. Muizzu’s meeting with Pakistan’s Field Marshal and Army chief General Asim Munir. Mr. Muizzu also advocated for the revival of SAARC, which has been on hold since 2016 when India withdrew from a summit in Islamabad over cross-border terrorism. Mr. Shahid emphasized, "We do not want Maldives to be drawn into disputes within our neighbours," and demanded a parliamentary statement from the Muizzu government detailing the agreements with Pakistan.

He further added, "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." Responding to questions about Mr. Muizzu's Pakistan visit, Ministry of External Affairs spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal stated that the Indian government kept a "close watch" on such developments and would "take whatever appropriate steps may be necessary." On SAARC, Mr. Jaiswal indicated that "one country" (Pakistan) had "stalled" its functioning, while India remained keen on strengthening regional cooperation.

Mr. Shahid’s comments suggest that ties with India could again become a central issue in Maldivian elections. Former President Solih lost the 2023 elections largely due to the "India Out" campaign led by Mr. Muizzu's People’s National Congress (PNC), which alleged undue Indian influence and accused the Solih government of allowing India to build military bases under infrastructure projects. Mr. Muizzu had also demanded the removal of Indian Air Force personnel stationed at three locations, including Gan Island and Hanimadhoo Atoll, who operated aircraft provided by India. While Mr. Muizzu's tenure initially saw tensions with India, he has also acknowledged support from both India and China for strengthening the Maldives' economy and repaid a second $50 million Indian treasury bill.

What to watch: The impact of Muizzu's foreign policy on upcoming Maldivian elections.

Editor's note: Faithfully captures Abdulla Shahid's remarks and background on the Maldivian political landscape following President Muizzu's Pakistan visit.