ISLAMABAD: Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif departed on Friday for a two-day official visit to Azerbaijan at the invitation of President Ilham Aliyev, to participate in the fifth anniversary celebrations of Victory Day, commemorating Azerbaijan’s triumph in liberating its territories from Armenian occupation.
According to state broadcaster PTV, Information Minister Attaullah Tarar is accompanying the prime minister during the visit. In a statement issued earlier in the day, the Foreign Office (FO) said that the visit reflects the strengthening partnership between Pakistan and Azerbaijan, and underscores Islamabad’s continued support for Baku’s sovereignty and territorial integrity.
During the visit, the prime minister will attend the official Victory Day celebrations and hold a meeting with President Aliyev, the FO said. Discussions will focus on reviewing the entire gamut of bilateral relations and identifying new avenues to further deepen cooperation in diverse sectors, including trade and investment, energy, defense, education, and regional connectivity.
Pakistan and Azerbaijan share what the FO described as “long-standing fraternal relations”, rooted in shared faith, history, culture, and mutual trust. The visit, it added, would reaffirm Pakistan’s steadfast support for Azerbaijan while helping to advance their strategic partnership on multiple fronts.
The trip is expected to pave the way for enhanced economic collaboration and regional connectivity projects, as both nations look to expand cooperation under multilateral frameworks such as the Economic Cooperation Organization (ECO).
This is Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif’s second visit to Azerbaijan in 2025, following his earlier trip in May as part of a four-nation tour. During that visit, he held extensive talks with President Aliyev, focusing on energy cooperation, trade diversification, and investment opportunities in mutually beneficial sectors.
In August, President Aliyev personally called PM Shehbaz to thank Pakistan for its unwavering support on the Nagorno-Karabakh issue, further highlighting the close diplomatic understanding between the two nations.
Observers see this latest visit as part of Islamabad’s ongoing efforts to broaden its diplomatic engagement in the South Caucasus region, which holds growing strategic importance due to its energy corridors and connectivity routes linking Asia and Europe.