Azerbaijan's Ilham Aliyev lauds Pakistan for promoting regional stability
Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif has reiterated that the victory of Azerbaijan against Armenia served as a beacon of hope for oppressed people striving for self-determination including the people of Indian Illegally Occupied Jammu and Kashmir, and Palestine.
He was talking to the President of Azerbaijan Ilham Aliyev at Presidential Palace in Baku on Friday. Chief of the Army Staff, Field Marshal Syed Asim Munir was also present on this occasion.
The Prime Minister felicitated the government and people of Azerbaijan on the victory day which is observed to commemorate historic victory in the forty-four day long Karabakh Liberation War against Armenia. He also appreciated President Ilham Aliyev for signing the historic peace agreement with Armenia earlier this year.
The two leaders reviewed the whole range of bilateral relationship and agreed to further strengthen their multi-layered cooperation in the fields of politics, trade and investment, energy, connectivity, and defence. Shehbaz Sharif extended an invitation to President of Azerbaijan Ilham Aliyev to visit Pakistan at his earliest convenience, which he graciously accepted.
On his part, President Ilham Aliyev thanked Pakistan for its consistent support to Azerbaijan in its just struggle against illegal occupation of Karabagh region. He also appreciated Pakistan's role in promoting regional stability in South Asia.
Earlier, PM Shehbaz Sharif has arrived in Baku to attend the ceremony to mark 5th anniversary of Victory Day of Azerbaijan.
He is visiting the country at the invitation of Azeri President Ilham Aliyev. On his arrival at the Heydar Aliyev International Airport Baku, the Prime Minister was received by First Deputy Prime Minister of Azerbaijan Yagub Eyyubov, First Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs Fariz Rzayev, Pakistan's Ambassador to Azerbaijan Qasim Mohiuddin, and diplomatic staff.
Minister for Information and Broadcasting, Attaullah Tarar, is accompanying the Prime Minister. During the visit, the Prime Minister will hold bilateral meeting with President of Azerbaijan, Ilham Aliyev.
At the invitation of President of Azerbaijan Ilham Aliyev, the prime minister will participate in the events marking the Victory Day celebrations being commemorated in capital Baku.
During the visit, Shehbaz Sharif will also hold a meeting with President Ilham Aliyev to review the entire gamut of bilateral relations and identify new avenues to further deepen cooperation in diverse sectors, including trade and investment, energy, defence, education, and regional connectivity.
Pakistan and Azerbaijan enjoy long-standing fraternal relations, rooted in shared faith, history, culture, and mutual trust.
The two countries also maintain close cooperation in regional and international fora, including the Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC), the Economic Cooperation Organization (ECO), and the United Nations (UN).
The visit by the prime minister will reaffirm Pakistan’s steadfast support for the sovereignty and territorial integrity of Azerbaijan and further advance the strategic partnership between the two brotherly nations.
Reporter Awais Kiyani