NEW DELHI: With Maldives’ new land law sparking fresh fear in India about the archipelago’s increasing ties with China, foreign secretary
S Jaishankar arrived in Male Monday to review India’s relations with the country.
The government said that Jaishankar’s Male visit was part of PM Narendra
Modi’s Saarc Yatra initiative launched earlier this year which facilitated the top diplomat’s visit to Islamabad in March.
India's external affairs ministry spokesperson Vikas Swarup tweeted: "Completing the
SAARC Yatra for a safe, secure and prosperous South Asia. FS Dr Jaishankar in Maldives today."
During his visit, the foreign secretary will call on President Abdulla Yameen, he said.
After his arrival, Jaishankar called on Vice President Ahmed Adeeb and held wide-ranging discussions on regional and bilateral issues.
Jaishankar will also hold talks on a host of issues with his counterpart Naseer.
The visit comes days after the Maldivian parliament passed a bill allowing foreign investors with a minimum of $1 billion to lease land in the Indian Ocean atoll nation on a freehold basis.
The move has caused concern in India as China has a major presence in the Maldives.
With his visit to the Maldives, Jaishankar rounds off his SAARC yatra. He had visited Bhutan, Bangladesh, Pakistan, Afghanistan, Sri Lanka and Nepal earlier this year as part of the SAARC yatra.