Azerbaijan commits to defence, trade, investment boost with Pakistan

• PM Shehbaz, Aliyev meet in Lachin ahead of trilateral summit.
• Azerbaijan lauded for support during Pak-India standoff
• Delegation-level talks planned to up Azerbaijani investment in Pakistan.

Pakistan and Azerbaijan on Tuesday stressed coordinated efforts to enhance regional stability, mutual prosperity, and uphold principled positions on key international issues.

The commitment came during a meeting between Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif and Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev in the city of Lachin, the Prime Minister’s Office said on Tuesday.

Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif arrived in Lachin, Azerbaijan, for the Pakistan-Turkiye-Azerbaijan Trilateral Summit, the third stop on a five-day tour focused on regional tensions and ties following a military escalation sparked by unprovoked Indian aggression.

The PM concluded his two-day bilateral visit to Iran earlier in the day and departed for Azerbaijan. Following his visits to Turkiye, Iran, and Azerbaijan, he will proceed to Tajikistan.

The meeting took place on the eve of a trilateral summit, scheduled to coincide with Azerbaijan’s Independence Day, adding symbolic weight to the leaders’ exchange.

The PM conveyed warm felicitations to President Aliyev and the people of Azerbaijan on this important national occasion, emphasising that the people of both countries enjoyed an eternal bond of friendship.

The premier thanked Azerbaijan for its unwavering support during the recent standoff with India, triggered by New Delhi's missile strikes on Pakistan, and praised the public show of solidarity from its leadership and people.

He also recalled the celebrations in Azerbaijan marking Pakistan’s victory in its four-day war against India, highlighting the close ties and mutual support between the two countries.

During the meeting, the two leaders reviewed the full spectrum of bilateral relations and expressed satisfaction over the upward trajectory of political, economic, defence, and cultural cooperation between Pakistan and Azerbaijan.

The Azerbaijani side agreed to the exchange of delegations with regard to progress in investment by Azerbaijan in Pakistan. In this regard, delegation-level talks will be organised very soon.

The PM noted that holding this meeting in Lachin, a city that reflects Azerbaijan’s journey of resilience and restoration, carries deep symbolic and emotional significance for both sides.

The meeting concluded with both leaders reaffirming their commitment to the deepening of the Pakistan-Azerbaijan partnership and working closely to further advance shared objectives at the bilateral and regional levels.

Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Senator Mohammad Ishaq Dar, Chief of the Army Staff Field Marshal Syed Asim Munir, Federal Minister for Information and Broadcasting Attaullah Tarar, and Special Assistant to the Prime Minister Tariq Fatemi were also present.

At Lachin Airport, the prime minister was received by Azerbaijan's Foreign Minister Jeyhun Bayramov, Pakistan’s Ambassador to Azerbaijan Qasim Mohiuddin, and other diplomatic staff, the PM Office Media Wing said in a press release.

The PM's four-nation tour follows a military stand-off between Pakistan and India. The latest escalation began on May 7 when at least 31 civilians were martyred in unprovoked Indian strikes in different areas of Pakistan and Azad Jammu and Kashmir. 

In retaliation, Pakistan downed its six fighter jets, including three Rafale, and dozens of drones. During the four-day standoff, at least 11 troops and 40 civilians were martyred at the hands of India.

Both nations halted their worst fighting in nearly three decades after agreeing to a ceasefire on May 10, following four days of intense cross-border drone and missile strikes, which took place after India launched unprovoked attacks on Islamabad.

Pakistan has intensified its diplomatic efforts to expose Indian propaganda and counter its hostile narrative at international forums.

As part of those efforts, Pakistan People's Party Chairman Bilawal Bhutto Zardari will also lead a high-level delegation to brief world leaders, parliamentarians, and international media in various countries about Pakistan’s peace-focused stance.