Thaindian News

New Delhi, Sep 17 (IANS) Maldives President Mohamed Waheed Monday lauded India’s support in pushing forward political process in his country when he met visiting Defence Minister A.K. Antony in the capital Male.

“President Waheed appreciated the visit of Antony to the island nation and said that it had ‘increased the confidence level in the relations of the two countries,’” the defence ministry said in a statement here.

He also appreciated India’s support in facilitating a way forward in the political process in Maldives, said the ministry.

Antony, who wrapped up his three-day visit to the island nation Monday, also briefed the Maldives president on the discussions he had with his Maldivian counterpart Mohamed Nazim Sunday on a slew of decisions taken to cement the defence relationship between the two countries.

Steeping up their defence ties, India and the Maldives Sunday had agreed on an array of steps to step up their cooperation in areas of counter-terrorism, anti-piracy operations and maritime security in the Indian Ocean.

Antony formally inaugurated a military hospital called “Senahiya” in Male, which has been built with the assistance of the Indian government and stressed on closer cooperation between the two countries in combating terrorism, drug-trafficking and piracy.