We will also further expand defence cooperation,” said Modi, thanking Ibrahim for his strong condemnation of the Pahalgam attack and the Red Fort blast.The PM underlined the significance of growing friendship between the 2 countries in the current climate of global uncertainty, saying the leaders backed all peace efforts and agreed that reform of global institutions was essential to address today’s challenges.While there was no official word from either side about whether the extradition sought by India of fugitive Zakir Naik was discussed in the meeting, official sources said India remains in touch with Malaysia to address legal issues related to its extradition request.Modi and Ibrahim also participated in a CEO Forum that, Modi said, opened new avenues for trade and investment. “The Prime Ministers encouraged the growing maritime cooperation between India and Malaysia, including through regular goodwill and operational deployments,” said the joint statement.There was focus on cooperation in the Indo-Pacific with Modi saying India will further broaden its engagement with the southeast Asia grouping and added the leaders agreed to an early completion of the ASEAN–India Trade in Goods Agreement (AITIGA) review.“The Indo-Pacific region is emerging as the engine of global growth. Ibrahim backed India’s 2026 BRICS chairmanship and India’s Malaysia’s role as a BRICS Partner Country, while taking note of Malaysia’s aspiration to become a member of BRICS.Ahead of the elections in Tamil Nadu, Modi also reached out to the Tamil community in Malaysia as he said both countries were connected by a shared affection for the Tamil language and that the strong and vibrant presence of Tamil was visible in education, media, and cultural life in the country.
Author: Sachin Parashar
Published at: 2026-02-08 21:55:19
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