- PM Shehbaz Sharif meets Turkish President Erdogan on sidelines of Azerbaijan’s Victory Day Parade
- Both leaders review full spectrum of Pakistan–Turkiye relations
- COAS Field Marshal Asim Munir also attends high-level meeting
BAKU/ISLAMABAD: Prime Minister Muhammad Shehbaz Sharif on Saturday held a high-profile meeting with Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan on the sidelines of Azerbaijan’s Victory Day Parade, using the occasion to push forward Pakistan’s strategic outreach in the region and reaffirm a deeper, broadened partnership with Turkiye, according to state media.
The meeting—also attended by Chief of the Army Staff, Field Marshal Syed Asim Munir—underscored Islamabad’s intent to elevate its political, defense, economic, and investment ties with Ankara at a time of shifting regional alignments, said a statement issued from the Prime Minister’s Office (PMO) on Saturday.
During the talks, the two leaders reviewed the full spectrum of Pakistan-Türkiye relations and reiterated their shared resolve to further strengthen cooperation across all priority sectors. The prime minister conveyed warm felicitations to President Erdogan and the people of Turkiye on Republic Day, praising the spirited observance of Pakistan–Türkiye Friendship Week, which he said reflected the depth and resilience of the two nations’ longstanding fraternal ties, the statement said.
Baku : Prime Minister Muhammad Shehbaz Sharif meets with President of Turkiye H.E. Recep Tayyip Erdogan; Chief of the Army Staff Field Marshal Syed Asim Munir is also present.#PakistanAzerbaijanFriendship pic.twitter.com/tXbngF5lTd
— Government of Pakistan (@GovtofPakistan) November 8, 2025
Prime Minister Shehbaz reaffirmed Pakistan’s commitment to transforming this historic relationship into an expanded, future-focused partnership encompassing defence, trade, investment, political engagement, and people-to-people exchanges. It was also agreed that a ministerial-level delegation from Turkiye would visit Pakistan soon to accelerate cooperation in these areas.
Both leaders emphasized continued close coordination on regional and international issues, expressing a shared desire to promote peace, stability, and prosperity in the broader region and the Muslim world, the PMO said.
The meeting with President Erdogan came as PM Shehbaz continued his two-day visit to Baku at the invitation of President Ilham Aliyev. The prime minister is participating in Azerbaijan’s Victory Day ceremony, which commemorates the country’s “historic victory in the 44-day-long Karabakh Liberation War against Armenia,” according to a state broadcaster PTV News post on X.
ترکیہ کے صدر عزت مآب رجب طیب ایردوان اور وزیراعظم پاکستان محمد شہباز شریف کے درمیان ملاقات ؛ چیف آف دی آرمی اسٹاف فیلڈ مارشل سید عاصم منیر بھی موجود تھے_*
وزیراعظم محمد شہبازشریف نے آج باکو میں یوم فتح کی پریڈ کے موقع پر صدر جمہوریہ ترکیہ رجب طیب ایردوان سے ملاقات کی۔ ملاقات میں… pic.twitter.com/k75jaBlx3y
— PTV News (@PTVNewsOfficial) November 8, 2025
PM Shehbaz, accompanied by Information Minister Attaullah Tarar, was received at Heydar Aliyev International Airport by Azerbaijan’s First Deputy Prime Minister Yagub Eyyubov, First Deputy Foreign Minister Fariz Razayev, Pakistan’s Ambassador Qasim Mohiuddin and members of the diplomatic staff.
During a separate meeting with President Aliyev, the prime minister thanked the Azerbaijani leader for the invitation and congratulated the government and people of Azerbaijan on the fifth anniversary of Victory Day. He said Azerbaijan’s victory “served as a beacon of hope for oppressed people striving for self-determination, including the people of Indian Illegally Occupied Jammu and Kashmir and Palestine.”
Earlier, the Foreign Office (FO) had confirmed that PM Shehbaz’s visit would focus on reviewing the “entire gamut of bilateral relations” with Azerbaijan and exploring fresh avenues for cooperation in trade and investment, energy, defense, education, and regional connectivity.
