Need to regain trust between Maldives, India: Dunya Maumoon

Former Maldives foreign affairs minister Dunya Maumoon on Sunday extended the hand of friendship towards India and said that the trust should be regained between the two countries.

The statement from Maumoon, who is the daughter of former President of the Maldives Maumoon Abdul Gayoom came after meeting with External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj in New Delhi.

Taking to Twitter, Maumoon said on Saturday, "It was such a pleasure to call on my friend HE @SushmaSwaraj to pass on greetings from my father. HE @maumoonagayoom built a warm friendship between our countries while he was in office. We need to regain the trust between our countries.”

The foreign minister’s visit to India comes as the Maldives is set to form a new government under President-elect Ibrahim Mohamed Solih. Solih, who recently won the Maldives presidential election by defeating Abdulla Yameen, is slated to be sworn in on November 17.

India-Maldives relations were strained recently due to incumbent President Abdulla Yameen's dictatorial behaviour, his growing proximity with China and Pakistan and human rights violations in his own country. He had arrested several people including top judges, opposition leaders and Mamoon’s father and declared a state of emergency in February.

Yameen had also tried to undermine Maldives long standing 'India first' policy.

-ANI