The Maldives government has issued a statement clarifying its position following a meeting between the country’s High Commissioner in Pakistan, Mohamed Thoha, and Sardar Ahmad Shakeeb, Afghanistan’s Acting Ambassador in Islamabad. The government noted that the meeting, which took place on Friday, was “not sanctioned by the Government of Maldives,” and affirmed that “appropriate actions have been taken in response.”
The meeting centred on enhancing bilateral relations and trade ties between the Maldives and Afghanistan, according to the Afghan Embassy in Islamabad. The two diplomats also discussed ways to facilitate trade with other Central Asian nations via Afghanistan, the embassy said in a social media post.
In its statement, the Maldives government highlighted its commitment to the practices followed by the United Nations General Assembly when questions arise regarding the representative character of a government. The statement reiterated, “the Maldives recognises the Government representing Afghanistan at the United Nations as the legitimate Government of Afghanistan.”
The Maldives has maintained diplomatic relations with Afghanistan since formal ties were established in March 2006. In December 2018, the Maldives acknowledged Afghanistan’s right to self-governance, a move that preceded the establishment of a Taliban government in August 2021.