Ambassador Azerbaijan: Oil Gas Coop with Pakistan expected Soon, Hopeful to Triple the Trade, We have Incentives for Business Community of Pakistan. Defense Attaché: JV in JF-17 under Consideration
Tazeen Akhtar IPR
Islamabad – 27 Sep 2022
Ambassador H.E. Khazar Nadir Oglu Farhadov has shared that, “Azerbaijan Pakistan trade doubled in last six months and it will be tripped in coming months thanks to the efforts of working groups active on trade and transport separately. Azerbaijan can provide incentives to the Pakistani Business community for the promotion of bilateral trade. The proposals of cooperation by SOCAR the state oil and gas company exist and will be matured soon.”
Defense Attaché Col Mehman Novruzlu has confirmed again, “Both countries are working on the possibility of joint ventures in defense sector including JF-17 of Pakistan Air Force.”
They were responding to questions of journalists at a press conference that was called in memorial of the Martyrs of the motherland Azerbaijan on 27 SEP which is commemorated as the official day of martyrs in Azerbaijan. On the day the soldiers of Azerbaijan sacrificed their precious lives for the integrity of their motherland.
The brotherly country had to fight two wars to stop the aggression and invasion of neighborly Armenia two times in the history of 30 years. First when Azerbaijan declared independence 3 decades ago and second in the last quarter of last year in which thousands of soldiers and civilians embraced Shahadat in saving their homes and liberating the occupied territories.
The Ambassador and Defense Attache briefed Pakistani Journalists from print, electronic and other media about the history of the defense of their country. They expressed the resolve that the sacrifices of the martyrs will always be remembered. Pictures of martyrs, portraits of war scenes, and photos of the Azerbaijani public encouraging their soldiers were installed on the walls of the hall where the Pakistani press heard the Ambassador.
Pakistani journalists paid rich tributes to martyrs and offered deep condolences to their families. They said that Azerbaijan’s defense is impregnable with the solid determination of this nation. The participants assumed one-minute silence to pay their homage to the martyrs. A documentary was also screened for the information of the local journalists.
Editor Tazeen Akhtar appreciated the victory of Azerbaijan against the Illegal Occupant country and said, ” The liberation of Azerbaijani territories carries a lesson for others whose territories are also under foreign occupation that they can get their territories back only when they are prepared to pay the price as Azerbaijan did. Azerbaijan looked forward to the world community and world bodies for implementing of the resolutions on Nagorno-Karabakh. Azerbaijan waited for 3 long decades for that and then implemented the resolutions herself.
Editor Tazeen Akhtar, having written articles and published stories of Armenian land mines in Azerbaijani lands, asked the question, ” Azerbaijani soldiers were hit even after the second Karabakh was over by these mines. Armenia is not sharing the maps of these mines that have taken precious lives during the ceasefire as well. Azerbaijan needs or is short of the latest technology to trace the mines and neutralize them.
Ambassador replied,” Azerbaijan possesses the latest technology. We have neutralized more than 13 hundred mines so far. Moreover, we are working on further research to develop a technology that can bring more accurate results. Azerbaijan is in touch with friendly countries in this regard.”
Defense Attache responded, ” Certainly we have the technology and we are acquiring more state-of-the-art equipment as well. We can not share the detail here for the delicacy of the security matter. From Pakistan, National Radio and Telecommunication Corporation (NRTC) has provided their proposals which are under our consideration.”
To another question by Editor Tazeen Akhtar about SOCAR’s offer to export petroleum to Pakistan on deferred payments, Ambassador noted, ” The leaders of both countries (President Ilham Aliyev and Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif) met in Samarkand on the sidelines of SCO Summit (15-16 Sep 2022). They discussed the whole gambit of bilateral ties and set the way forward that is being followed by the officials of both sides. State Minister of Pakistan for Energy Dr Musaddaq Malik visited Baku last week and held meetings with concerned officials. The offer of SOCAR still exists and we are hopeful that the mutual cooperation in this sector can soon be matured.”
On direct communication and connectivity, Ambassador dwelled in detail. He referred to the direct flights of PIA and said, ” More than one hundred businessmen visited Baku on the first flight of PIA. They had discussions with Azerbaijani Business people. This Big B-to-B connection helped build the base of future cooperation in trade and investments. Bilateral trade is doubled in the last six months and we are hopeful that it will triple in the next few months. Azerbaijan has incentives for the Pakistani business community.”
Editor Tazeen Akhtar asked about Road connectivity in the light of a pilot project last year in which trade trucks of the National Logistic Cell (NLC) traveled through Iran to Turkey and reached Baku Azerbaijan and returned.
Ambassador responded, ” In the follow up of the Summit meeting in Samarkand, separate working groups are active on trade and transport. They are entrusted with the task to focus on their specific sector. Therefore, we are looking forward to building connectivity in every possible way.”
Regarding a question about the reconstruction of newly liberated territories and Pakistani companies’ cooperation there, Ambassador said,” We will welcome Pakistani companies.”
Defense Attache said,” Frontier Works Organization and National Logistics Cell are in contact with us in this matter.”
Ambassador Azerbaijan: Oil Gas Coop with Pakistan expected Soon, Hopeful to Triple the Trade, We have Incentives for Business Community of Pakistan.
