Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif and Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev on Monday held wide-ranging talks in Baku reaffirming their commitment to strengthening bilateral ties in trade, energy, and defense cooperation.
During the meeting at the Presidential Palace, both leaders discussed regional and international matters of mutual interest, with Prime Minister Shehbaz expressing gratitude for Azerbaijan’s unwavering support on the Kashmir issue.
In return, he reiterated Pakistan’s steadfast backing of Azerbaijan’s stance on the Karabakh conflict.
A formal ceremony was held in honor of the Pakistani premier’s visit, where key agreements were signed, including a memorandum of understanding (MoU) between Azerbaijan’s State Oil Company and Pakistan Refinery Limited.
Another MoU was signed between Azerbaijan’s State Oil Company and Pakistan’s Frontier Works Organization (FWO).
An amendment to the Framework Agreement for the purchase and sale of liquefied natural gas (LNG) was also signed between the two countries, signaling deeper energy cooperation.
Investment, economic ties
Prime Minister Shehbaz welcomed Azerbaijan’s decision to invest $2 billion in Pakistan, terming it a “significant step” towards enhancing economic cooperation. “I am grateful for this announcement and look forward to signing these agreements in Islamabad in April,” he said.
He also lauded Baku’s urban development and expressed hope for similar progress in Pakistan’s capital. “Baku is a beautiful city, and with Azerbaijan’s cooperation, we will develop Islamabad on similar lines,” he remarked.
Defense collaboration
President Aliyev, while addressing the event, underscored Azerbaijan’s growing defense ties with Pakistan.
“We deeply appreciate Pakistan’s advanced defense industry and are satisfied with the defense products we have procured,” he said, adding that both countries would continue to explore avenues for joint defense production.
Regional concerns
Touching upon the ongoing crisis in Gaza, Prime Minister Shehbaz said the people of Pakistan demand an immediate ceasefire and support a two-state solution for Palestine. “The entire world agrees that the dream of a Palestinian state must be realized,” he stated.
President Aliyev noted that the frequent high-level exchanges between Pakistan and Azerbaijan reflected the “brotherly relations” between the two nations.
“I visited Pakistan last year, and Prime Minister Shehbaz has now visited Azerbaijan twice. These visits demonstrate our strong and enduring ties,” he added.
The leaders expressed optimism that the agreements signed during the visit would further strengthen economic and strategic cooperation between the two countries.
