MALE, Nov 23: Pakistan and Maldives have decided to cooperate in areas of counter-terrorism, intelligence sharing and anti-narcotics. This was decided at a meeting between the two sides during prime minister's one-day visit to Maldives on Monday.

Pakistan offered Maldives its expertize in handling sophisticated equipment and devices being used by terrorists nowadays, sources said. Other areas of cooperation identified were training of police and Maldivian diplomats.

On Tuesday morning before prime minister's departure for Delhi, the defence and foreign ministers of Maldives called on him. Mr Aziz was very receptive to the request of the Maldives government for more places for its defence personnel in Pakistan's key defence institutions.

Mr Aziz was told by his hosts that Maldives would consider opening an embassy in Islamabad. Currently Maldives has only a Consulate in Karachi. Pakistan opened its embassy in Maldives in 1986. Maldives will soon open an embassy in India.

Prime Minister was seen off at the Male International Airport by the special envoy of the Maldivian President Fathullah Jameel.