PM Shehbaz, Azerbaijan president discuss Gulf hostilities, call for immediate de-escalation

ISLAMABAD: Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif and Azerbaijan's President Ilham Aliyev held a telephone conversation on Friday to discuss the escalating hostilities in the Gulf region amid the ongoing US-Israeli war on Iran, with both leaders urging an immediate de-escalation of the conflict.

The war launched by the United States and Israel against Iran has widened across the Middle East, with Tehran striking US bases and assets in other countries in the region, including Azerbaijan, while Tel Aviv has been targeting Hezbollah in Lebanon.

According to a statement issued by the Prime Minister's Office (PMO) on the social media platform X, the premier spoke with President Aliyev "to exchange greetings on the auspicious occasion of Eidul Fitr".

"The two leaders also discussed the ongoing hostilities in Iran and the Gulf region."

The statement further noted that the prime minister reiterated his strong condemnation of the attacks against Azerbaijan and expressed full solidarity and support with the brotherly people of Azerbaijan during these challenging times.

Regional tensions continue to escalate

The phone call between the two leaders comes at a time when the broader Middle East region remains engulfed in heightened military activity. The conflict, which initially centred on Iran, has drawn in multiple countries and theatres, with Azerbaijan also finding itself affected by the hostilities.

Prime Minister Shehbaz's expression of solidarity with Baku underscores Pakistan's longstanding fraternal ties with Azerbaijan. The condemnation of attacks on Azerbaijani territory reflects Islamabad's position on the widening scope of the conflict and its impact on friendly nations in the region.

The conversation between the two leaders also served a diplomatic purpose beyond the security discussion, as Eidul Fitr greetings were exchanged, reinforcing the close bilateral relationship between Pakistan and Azerbaijan.

Pakistan has consistently called for restraint and de-escalation in the Gulf region as the conflict continues to pose risks to regional stability and global energy supplies. The telephone exchange between PM Shehbaz and President Aliyev signals a shared concern among Muslim-majority nations over the trajectory of the hostilities and a mutual desire for a peaceful resolution to the crisis.