Dar, Azerbaijan FM discuss regional cooperation, inaugural Board of Peace meeting

• DPM/FM Dar holds telephonic talks with Azerbaijani FM Jeyhun Bayramov, reviews bilateral ties and regional and international developments

 ISLAMABAD: Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Senator Muhammad Ishaq Dar on Saturday held a telephonic conversation with Jeyhun Bayramov, Foreign Minister of Azerbaijan, to discuss bilateral cooperation, as well as regional and international developments, including the inaugural Board of Peace meeting in Washington, D.C., which both leaders attended, state media reported.

According to a statement by the Foreign Office of Pakistan on X (formerly Twitter), DPM Dar conducted the conversation while in London.

Deputy Prime Minister / Foreign Minister Senator Muhammad Ishaq Dar @MIshaqDar50, while in London, spoke with Foreign Minister of Azerbaijan Jeyhun Bayramov @Bayramov_Jeyhun.

The two leaders discussed bilateral cooperation, regional & international developments, including the… pic.twitter.com/sRCryZMSqg

— Ministry of Foreign Affairs - Pakistan (@ForeignOfficePk) February 21, 2026

“The two leaders discussed bilateral cooperation, regional and international developments, including the inaugural Board of Peace meeting in Washington, which they both attended,” the Foreign Office said.

Both Pakistan and Azerbaijan are among the founding members of the Board of Peace, established after the Trump administration, in collaboration with Qatar and Egypt, negotiated a ceasefire in October to halt two years of devastating Israeli attacks in Gaza.

The Board’s second phase focuses on the disarmament of Hamas. During the inaugural meeting in Washington, US President Donald Trump pledged $10 billion, while five Muslim-majority nations—Morocco, Albania, Indonesia, Kazakhstan, and Kosovo—offered funding and troops to support Gaza.

At the same meeting, Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif underscored the importance of ending ceasefire violations in Gaza, calling it “very important” for lasting peace in the war-torn Strip.

Addressing the inaugural Board of Peace meeting—formally established last month following a September 2025 proposal—Prime Minister Shehbaz highlighted the urgency of halting ceasefire violations, emphasizing that it is critical to achieving durable peace.

“The people of Palestine have long endured illegal occupation and immense suffering. To achieve lasting peace, it is essential that ceasefire violations end to protect lives and advance reconstruction efforts,” he said. He added that Palestinians must exercise full control over their land and future, in accordance with UN Security Council resolutions.