Sharif reaffirms Pakistan’s commitment to strategic ties with Azerbaijan

Pakistani Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif on Friday, July 31, again reaffirmed Pakistan’s commitment to strengthening its strategic partnership with Azerbaijan, saying both countries would continue to build on recent gains in bilateral cooperation.

The remarks came during a farewell meeting with Khazar Farhadov, Azerbaijan’s outgoing ambassador to Pakistan, marking the conclusion of his diplomatic tenure in Islamabad, as per Pakistani newspaper Business Recorder. 

Sharif thanked Farhadov for his role in advancing what he described as a “brotherly” relationship between the two countries. He highlighted progress across multiple areas, including political, trade, economic, defence, cultural and people-to-people cooperation, as well as the launch of direct flights linking Pakistan and Azerbaijan.

The prime minister conveyed his regards to Ilham Aliyev and recalled his own visits to Azerbaijan over the past two and a half years, along with Aliyev’s visit to Pakistan in July 2024, which he said helped reinforce bilateral ties.

Sharif reiterated that Pakistan remains committed to expanding relations further and expressed confidence that the groundwork laid during Farhadov’s tenure would facilitate closer cooperation in the years ahead.

Farhadov, for his part, thanked the Pakistani government and people for their support during his posting, describing the assignment as a memorable period in his diplomatic career. He reaffirmed Azerbaijan’s commitment to deepening its strategic partnership with Pakistan and presented Sharif with a book based on his family’s experiences of living in the country.

By Tamilla Hasanova