BAKU: Pakistan’s Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif has said that Azerbaijan’s victory over Armenia stands as a symbol of hope for oppressed nations seeking their right to self-determination — including the people of Indian Illegally Occupied Jammu and Kashmir and Palestine.
He made the remarks during a meeting with the President of Azerbaijan Ilham Aliyev, at the Presidential Palace in Baku on Friday, Radio Pakistan reported.
Chief of the Army Staff, Field Marshal Syed Asim Munir, was also present in the meeting.
The Prime Minister congratulated the government and people of Azerbaijan on Victory Day, commemorating their historic triumph in the 44-day Karabakh Liberation War against Armenia. He also praised President Ilham Aliyev for signing the landmark peace agreement with Armenia earlier this year.
During their meeting, the two leaders reviewed the full spectrum of bilateral relations and agreed to deepen their multifaceted cooperation in areas including politics, trade and investment, energy, connectivity, and defence.
Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif extended an invitation to President Ilham Aliyev to visit Pakistan at his earliest convenience, which the Azerbaijani leader graciously accepted.
For his part, President Aliyev expressed gratitude to Pakistan for its steadfast support during Azerbaijan’s rightful struggle against the illegal occupation of the Karabakh region and commended Pakistan’s constructive role in promoting peace and stability across South Asia.
Earlier, Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif arrived in Baku to attend the Fifth Anniversary of Azerbaijan’s Victory Day celebrations.
Pakistan and Azerbaijan share deep-rooted fraternal ties grounded in common faith, history, culture, and mutual trust. The two nations also cooperate closely in various regional and international organisations such as the Organisation of Islamic Cooperation (OIC), the Economic Cooperation Organisation (ECO), and the United Nations (UN).
In July 2024, during President Ilham Aliyev’s visit to Islamabad, Azerbaijan announced a $2 billion investment in Pakistan. Earlier, in September, Pakistan had signed an agreement to supply JF-17 Block III fighter jets to Azerbaijan, reflecting a significant strengthening of defence ties between the two nations.
In July, Prime Minister Sharif met President Aliyev in Khankendi on the sidelines of the 17th Economic Cooperation Organisation (ECO) Summit. Earlier, in May, he traveled to Baku as part of a wider initiative in economic diplomacy, offering Central Asian republics access to Pakistan’s southern ports of Karachi and Gwadar.
