Tazeen Akhtar
Baku/ Azerbaijan : Prime Minister Mohammad Shahbaz Sharif arrived at Zgulba Presidential Palace in Baku, Azerbaijan. President of Azerbaijan Ilham Aliyev warmly welcomed the Prime Minister. The Prime Minister was presented with a guard of honor at the Zgulba Presidential Palace.
Both leaders embraced each other like old friends who were anxious to meet. President Ilham himself was present at the entrance to welcome PM Shehbaz with open arms and warm feelings. PM Shehbaz also expressed his heartily sentiments for President and the nation of Azerbaijan.
The relations between the two countries have always been highly cordial and brotherly in all spheres including defense and sovereignty. Azerbaijan presented example of how to deal with the occupant countries that violate human rights of the occupied people and do not obey the resolutions of United Nations.
Pakistan do not recognize Armenia for its illegal occupation of Azerbaijani territories , most of which had been liberated by valiant Azerbaijani forces in second Karabakh War Sep Nov 2020. Pakistan was standing by Azerbaijan in this war.
Prime Minister Muhammad Shehbaz Sharif visited the mausoleum of National Hero and first President of Azerbaijan, Heydar Aliyev. Prime Minister laid a floral wreath at the mausoleum. Baku, 15th of June, 2023. Heydar Aliyev was the constructor of Azerbaijan relations with Pakistan. He let his nation through a turbulent era of former USSR and provided a visionary leadership for his nation to establish a strong state in south caucus.
During the visit, the prime minister will meet the Azerbaijan president. A ministerial delegation of Azerbaijan will also meet the prime minister to discuss bilateral cooperation in the fields of trade and energy.
Prior to his departure, the prime minister wrote on Twitter that his “visit is part of our government’s policy to strengthen bilateral cooperation and build win-win partnerships”.
He said other than expediting early finalisation of the Preferential Trade Agreement (PTA), he would hold important talks with the Azerbaijani leadership to open up avenues of cooperation in energy, banking, financial services and IT sectors.
“Translating excellent bilateral political ties into a solid relationship of trade and investment remains a fundamental goal for us. Central Asia is central to our energy security policy and we are committed to stepping up the cooperation with CARs (Central Asian Republics) to make Pakistan energy-secure,” the prime minister tweeted.
Pakistan Reaffirms Principled Support to Azerbaijan – PM Shehbaz Expresses Condolence on Martyrdom of Soldiers in Armenian Attack
