By Khawaja Hamza
ISLAMABAD: Pakistan and Azerbaijan on Thursday reaffirmed their deep-rooted brotherly ties and commitment to further strengthening cooperation across political, economic, legal and regional spheres during a series of high-level engagements held in Islamabad.
Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif said Pakistan and Azerbaijan shared a historic brotherly relationship that was growing stronger with every passing day. He expressed these views during a meeting with Azerbaijan’s Justice Minister Farid Turab Oglu Ahmadov, who called on him in Islamabad.
The prime minister conveyed warm greetings to Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev and fondly recalled their recent telephone conversation. He appreciated the ongoing cooperation between the two countries in legal and judicial sectors, including efforts to enhance mutual legal assistance and strengthen judicial capacity-building mechanisms.
The meeting was attended by Federal Minister for Law and Justice Azam Nazeer Tarar, Attorney General Mansoor Usman Awan, Minister of State for Law and Justice Barrister Aqeel Malik, SAPM Tariq Fatemi and Foreign Secretary Ambassador Amna Baloch.
Separately, Law Minister Azam Nazeer Tarar thanked the government and people of Azerbaijan for their support during Marka-e-Haq while welcoming an Azerbaijani delegation in the National Assembly. He said Pakistan highly valued the solidarity shown by the Azerbaijani people, including demonstrations of support in Baku and other cities.
Deputy Speaker National Assembly Syed Ghulam Mustafa Shah informed the House that an Azerbaijani delegation was present in the Speaker’s Gallery to observe parliamentary proceedings, prompting lawmakers to welcome the guests by thumping their desks.
Meanwhile, Federal Minister for Communications and President of Istehkam-e-Pakistan Party Abdul Aleem Khan praised Azerbaijan’s remarkable economic progress and its growing role in global connectivity through key transport corridors linking Asia and Europe.
Addressing a ceremony in Islamabad marking Azerbaijan’s 108th Independence Day hosted by Ambassador Khazar Farhadov, Aleem Khan highlighted the importance of the North-South and East-West transport corridors, particularly the Trans-Caspian International Transport Route.
He noted that Pakistan was among the first countries to recognize Azerbaijan’s independence in 1991 and paid tribute to late Azerbaijani leader Heydar Aliyev for laying the foundations of bilateral relations.
The minister also appreciated President Ilham Aliyev’s leadership in transforming bilateral ties into a strategic partnership and welcomed progress on the Preferential Trade Agreement and Transit Trade Agreement between the two countries.
Aleem Khan said Azerbaijan’s decision to exempt customs duties on Pakistani rice imports reflected deep mutual trust, adding that enhanced direct air connectivity had brought the people of both countries closer, with nearly 90,000 Pakistanis visiting Azerbaijan last year.
He reiterated Pakistan’s support for Azerbaijan’s sovereignty and thanked Baku for its consistent support for the Kashmiri people and its solidarity with Pakistan during challenging times.
