Chief of Maldivian defence forces Major General Abdulla Shamaal is on a six-day visit to India

Army Chief General Manoj Pande has held extensive talks with the Chief of Maldivian defence forces Major General Abdulla Shamaal, focusing on ways to further strengthen bilateral defence and security cooperation.

The discussions took place in New Delhi on Thursday, during Major Gen Shammal's six-day visit to India.

"Gen Manoj Pande #COAS extended a warm welcome to Maj Gen Abdulla Shamaal, Chief of Defence Force, @MNDF_Official and discussed ways to strengthen the #DefenceCooperation between the two countries," the Indian Army said on Twitter.

Major Gen Shammal, who also visited the National War Memorial, received a guard of honour at South Block.

There have been several high-level visits and exchanges between the two countries this year.

India and Maldives had discussed joint efforts and capacity building measures to counter transnational crimes and enhance security in the region at the 3rd Defence Cooperation Dialogue held in Male on February 13 this year.

During his visit to the country on March 23, National Security Advisor (NSA) Ajit Doval met with Maldivian Defence Minister Mariya Didi and reaffirmed India’s commitment to further strengthen time-tested bilateral security partnership with Maldives and to work closely for enhancing regional security.

Doval was in the Maldives to attend the 5th NSA Level Meeting of the Colombo Security Conclave

External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar, who also visited in March, said that India’s partnership with Maldives is a force for stability in the region.