ISTANBUL

Pakistan and the Maldives held discussions to “further enhance” military-to-military engagements, an official statement said Friday.

The ties were discussed during an official visit to the Maldives by Pakistani Joint Chiefs of Staff Committee chairman Gen. Sahir Shamshad Mirza.

Mirza met Maldives' President Mohamed Muizzu, Defense Minister Mohamed Ghassan Maumoon, as well as Maj. Gen. Ibrahim Hilmy, chief of the defense force, said a Pakistani military statement.

The two sides held discussions on “evolving global and regional security environment and issues of mutual interest, including bilateral defense and security cooperation.”

“They also considered avenues to further enhance military-to-military engagements between the two countries and reaffirmed shared commitment to further strengthening the partnership,” it added.

According to a statement by the Maldives presidency, the discussions between Muizzu and Mirza centered on “strengthening the longstanding bilateral relationship."

Muizzu and Mirza “emphasized the importance of continued collaboration and reaffirmed their shared commitment to further enhancing the partnership between the Maldives and Pakistan,” the statement added.