Pakistan and the Maldives signed 20 memorandums of understanding during Maldivian President Mohamed Muizzu’s state visit to Islamabad on October 21, 2026. The agreements cover defence cooperation, maritime security, cybersecurity and trade. They were exchanged in the presence of Pakistani Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif and President Muizzu.

The pacts include defence cooperation, police training and maritime security. The two sides also agreed to work together against illicit drug trafficking, strengthen joint law enforcement training and expand intelligence sharing on cybersecurity and artificial intelligence. The Maldives holds a key position along major international sea routes in the Indian Ocean, so its security partnerships carry regional weight.

On the economic side, the countries set a target of $200 million in annual trade within two years. Agreements between the Trading Corporation of Pakistan and the Maldives’ State Trading Organisation aim to boost bulk trade in agricultural commodities and essential food items. The wider package also addresses health professional recruitment, civil service training, higher education, air connectivity, climate change mitigation and fisheries development.

The deals allow Pakistan to expand its presence in the Indian Ocean Region. For India, which maintains extensive development and economic ties with the Maldives, the agreements merit attention. Available details do not show any military basing, deployment of Pakistani forces or arrangements directed against India. The real impact will depend on how the agreements are put into practice, especially in defence and maritime security.