BAKU, Azerbaijan: Pakistan’s Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif held a meeting with the Presidents of Turkiye and Azerbaijan in Baku on Saturday, discussing ways to deepen defence, political and economic cooperation among the three countries.
The meetings took place on the sidelines of Azerbaijan’s Victory Day Parade, marking the fifth anniversary of the end of the 2020 Karabakh war. Pakistan’s Chief of the Army Staff, Field Marshal Syed Asim Munir, also attended the meeting.
According to the Prime Minister’s Office, PM Sharif and Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan reaffirmed their commitment to strengthening bilateral relations and maintaining close coordination on regional and international issues of mutual concern.
Both sides agreed to promote peace, stability and prosperity in the wider region and the Muslim world.
The two leaders reviewed the full range of Pakistan–Turkiye relations and decided that a high-level ministerial delegation from Turkiye would visit Pakistan soon to advance discussions on trade, defence and investment.
Pakistan’s Ties with Turkiye and Azerbaijan
In a message on X, Pakistan’s Prime Minister Sharif said he was “delighted” to meet the Presidents of Turkiye and Azerbaijan and held “a most productive discussion on expanding our historic and deep-rooted fraternal ties.”
He said it was an honour to witness Baku’s grand Victory Parade, which he described as a “showcase of Azerbaijan’s courage and unity.”
PM Sharif expressed pride in seeing a contingent of the Pakistan Army march alongside Azerbaijani and Turkish forces, calling it a symbol of the strong brotherhood between the three nations.
He said Pakistan remained committed to transforming its longstanding partnership with Turkiye into an expanded alliance encompassing politics, defence, trade, investment, and cultural exchange.
Address at Victory Day Parade
Earlier, addressing the Victory Day Parade, Prime Minister Sharif said the joint participation of Pakistan and Turkiye in Azerbaijan’s national celebration reflected the enduring friendship that had grown stronger over the years.
“Pakistan, Azerbaijan and Turkiye are three brothers whose hearts beat together,” he said, adding that their forces standing shoulder to shoulder was a proud moment for all three nations.
The Prime Minister paid tribute to Azerbaijan’s soldiers for their sacrifices during the Karabakh war and praised President Ilham Aliyev for his “visionary leadership” in securing victory and pursuing peace with dignity.
Sharif lauded the rapid reconstruction efforts in the liberated territories, particularly in the city of Shusha, calling it a “jewel of Karabakh.”
He also recited verses by Pakistan’s national poet Allama Iqbal to pay homage to Azerbaijan’s struggle for freedom.
Solidarity with Global Causes
The Prime Minister drew parallels between Azerbaijan’s victory and the struggles of oppressed peoples elsewhere, including those in Gaza and Indian Illegally Occupied Jammu and Kashmir. He said Azerbaijan’s success was “a beacon of hope for all nations fighting against oppression.”
PM Sharif also praised Turkiye’s development under President Erdogan, describing it as “a modern, progressive and strategic world power.”
The ceremony began with the national anthems of Pakistan, Azerbaijan and Turkiye, followed by a minute’s silence in honour of Karabakh’s martyrs.
Contingents from all three countries’ armed forces marched together, accompanied by a flypast featuring Pakistan’s JF-17 Thunder jets.
Azerbaijan’s President Ilham Aliyev, in his address, thanked Pakistan for its support during the 2020 conflict with Armenia, noting that Islamabad had stood “in solidarity with Azerbaijan throughout the 44-day war.”
