Pakistan, Azerbaijan reaffirm push to deepen cooperation

BAKU: Pakistan and Azerbaijan have renewed their commitment to expanding cooperation in key areas including trade and investment, energy, and people-to-people exchanges, according to a statement issued by the Prime Minister’s Office Media Wing after a telephone conversation between Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif and Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev on Tuesday.

The statement said both leaders expressed satisfaction over what it described as the positive trajectory of bilateral relations. During what the PM Office called their most warm and cordial conversation, the two sides exchanged greetings and reaffirmed the strong fraternal bonds of friendship between Pakistan and Azerbaijan.

Prime Minister Shehbaz conveyed his good wishes to President Aliyev for the success of the World Urban Forum, which is scheduled to be held in Baku next week. He said he was confident that the event, under Azerbaijan’s stewardship, would provide an important platform for advancing the global urban development agenda.

The prime minister also informed President Aliyev that pressing commitments would prevent him from attending the forum in person. However, he said Pakistan would be represented at the event.

Regional issues also discussed

According to the statement, the two leaders also exchanged views on regional developments of shared concern, with particular focus on ongoing peace efforts in the Middle East.

President Aliyev, the statement said, expressed deep appreciation for Pakistan’s remarkably successful initiatives aimed at securing a ceasefire between Iran and the US. He said this reflected the trust and confidence of the international community in Pakistan and its leadership.

The PM Office said both leaders agreed to remain in close contact and looked forward to meeting in person later this year.

During the conversation, Prime Minister Shehbaz also renewed his cordial invitation to President Aliyev to undertake an official visit to Pakistan at his earliest convenience.

The latest contact between the two leaders comes as Islamabad and Baku continue to maintain close diplomatic engagement and underline their interest in broadening cooperation across multiple sectors identified as areas of mutual interest.

The official statement did not provide further details on the timing of a possible visit by President Aliyev or on the specific agenda for the leaders’ expected in-person meeting later this year. It did, however, indicate that both sides remain aligned on strengthening bilateral ties and sustaining communication at the highest level.