MALDIVES- Pakistan Army chief General Qamar Javed Bajwa on Sunday becamethe first foreign dignitary to visit the Maldives after the 45-dayemergency was lifted last month. Bajwa paid a “courtesy call” on PresidentAbdulla Yameen Abdul Gayoom today morning at the latter’s office.
Noting that Pakistan and the Maldives are two “brotherly Muslim nations”,Bajwa underlined the need for further cultivating existing ties offriendship and deepening cooperation in all fields.
President Gayoom welcomed Bajwa to the Maldives and conveyed his greetingsand good wishes to Pakistan President Mamnoon Hussain and Prime MinisterShahid Khaqan Abbasi.
A press release by the President’s Office read that Gayoom expressed hopeand confidence that the Maldives and Pakistan will continue workingtogether on bilateral and international issues of common concern, tofurther strengthen the close ties of friendship and cooperation that existbetween the two countries.
Maldives Chief of Defence Force, Major General Ahmed Shiyam and theMinister of State for Foreign Relations at the President’s Office, H.E.Mohamed Naseer were also present during the meeting.
General Bajwa was accompanied by the Ambassador of Pakistan to theMaldives, H.E. Vice Admiral Waseem Akram, PS (C) to the Chief of ArmyStaff, Brigadier Ifukhar Hassan Cahuhadary, and Defence Adviser, ColonelSajjad Ali.