Azerbaijan President Ilham Aliyev has praised Pakistan for playing a vital role in bringing regional peace and stability during his meeting with Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif.
In a meeting at the Presidential Palace in Baku on Friday, where Chief of the Army Staff, Field Marshal Syed Asim Munir, was also present, President Ilham Aliyev expressed gratitude to Pakistan for its consistent support to Azerbaijan in its just struggle against the illegal occupation of the Karabagh region.
PM Shehbaz arrived in Baku earlier today for his two-day official visit to Azerbaijan, where the premier will attend the country's Victory Day celebrations at the invitation of Azerbaijan President Aliyev.
During the visit from November 7-8, PM Shehbaz will take part in the celebrations marking the fifth anniversary of the country’s Victory Day, according to a statement issued by the Foreign Office on Friday.
"During the visit, he (PM Shehbaz) 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," the FO statement added.
"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 Organisation of Islamic Cooperation (OIC), the Economic Cooperation Organisation (ECO), and the United Nations (UN)," the statement added.
The visit by the prime minister, the FO said, 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.
This marks PM Shehbaz’s third visit to Azerbaijan in 2025, following his official trip in February and his participation as head of Pakistan’s delegation at the 17th Economic Cooperation Organisation (ECO) Summit in Khankendi, which took place from July 3 to 4.
PM Shehbaz had also met President Aliyev on the sidelines of the ECO Summit and reaffirmed that the interactions between the leadership of both countries had helped in making the relationship ever stronger.