{
  "id": 15930071,
  "title": "Maldives president, CDF Munir stress importance of strengthening bilateral defence cooperation",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/10/21/maldives-president-cdf-munir-stress-importance-of-strengthening",
  "topic": "world",
  "section": "World",
  "published": "2026-10-21T18:38:20.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "Dawn - Pakistan",
    "slug": "dawn-pakistan",
    "url": "https://www.dawn.com/news/2038736/maldives-president-cdf-munir-stress-importance-of-strengthening-bilateral-defence-cooperation"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "Chief of Defence Forces (CDF) and Chief of the Army Staff Field Marshal Asim Munir met with visiting Maldivian President Dr Mohamed Muizzu in Islamabad on Wednesday. The leaders emphasized the significance of enhancing bilateral defense cooperation during their discussions, which took place amid the 60th anniversary of diplomatic relations established between the two nations in 1966. Muizzu's visit marks the first by a Maldivian president to Pakistan in 11 years, following an invitation from Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif. Both sides stressed the importance of strengthening defense cooperation, institutional linkages, and professional exchanges, with the CDF highlighting the \"longstanding and cordial relations\" between Pakistan and the Maldives. President Muizzu praised Pakistan's armed forces and appreciated the country's efforts to promote regional peace and stability. Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif vowed to strengthen bilateral relations, signing 20 memorandums of understanding (MoUs) with the Maldives. The premier expressed warm greetings to the Maldivian people, noting that discussions covered economic and trade relations, strategic defense cooperation, and support for training Maldivian personnel in Pakistan's various fields. In a separate announcement, Shehbaz committed to boosting bilateral trade from $13.9 million to $200 million within two years. He also pledged Islamabad's support for Malé's tree plantation initiative and technical expertise in data centers. The prime minister commended the Maldives' support for the Palestinian cause, reaffirmed Pakistan's stance on Jammu and Kashmir, and expressed concern over India's decision to suspend the Indus Waters Treaty in April 2025.",
  "summary": "Chief of Defence Forces (CDF) and Chief of the Army Staff Field Marshal Asim Munir and visiting Maldivian President Dr Mohamed Muizzu underscored the importance of strengthening bilateral defence cooperation on Wednesday, state-run Radio Pakistan reported . Muizzu arrived in Islamabad on Tuesday on a three-day visit at the invitation of Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif. The visit marks the first by…",
  "key_points": [
    "CDF Asim Munir stresses strengthening bilateral defense cooperation with Maldives",
    "Maldivian President Muizzu visits Pakistan for first time in 11 years",
    "20 MoUs signed to boost economic, trade, and defense relations"
  ],
  "editors_take": null,
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 2,
    "also_reported_by": [
      {
        "outlet": "Dawn Business",
        "title": "Maldives president, CDF Munir stress importance of strengthening defence cooperation",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/10/21/maldives-president-cdf-munir-stress-importance-of-strengthening-15934792",
        "published": "2026-10-21T19:09:19.000Z"
      }
    ]
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}