Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif and Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev met in Baku on Monday, reaffirming their commitment to enhancing bilateral relations in trade, energy, and defense. During their discussions at the Presidential Palace, they also addressed regional and global issues of mutual interest. Shehbaz expressed gratitude for Azerbaijan’s consistent support for Pakistan on the Kashmir issue, while reaffirming Pakistan’s backing of Azerbaijan’s stance on the Karabakh conflict.
A formal ceremony marked the visit, where several agreements were signed. These included a memorandum of understanding (MoU) between Azerbaijan’s State Oil Company and Pakistan Refinery Limited, another MoU with Pakistan’s Frontier Works Organization (FWO), and an amendment to the Framework Agreement for LNG trade, further strengthening energy collaboration.
Economic and Investment Cooperation
Shehbaz welcomed Azerbaijan’s decision to invest $2 billion in Pakistan, calling it a crucial step toward economic partnership. He looked forward to finalizing these agreements in Islamabad in April. Additionally, he praised Baku’s urban development and expressed hopes for similar advancements in Islamabad with Azerbaijan’s support.
Defense Partnership
President Aliyev highlighted the growing defense cooperation between the two nations, acknowledging Pakistan’s advanced defense industry and the procurement of its defense products. He affirmed that both countries would explore further opportunities for joint defense production.
Regional Developments
Discussing the crisis in Gaza, Shehbaz called for an immediate ceasefire and reiterated Pakistan’s support for a two-state solution for Palestine. Aliyev emphasized the importance of frequent high-level exchanges, noting that these visits reflected the strong brotherly relations between the two nations.
Both leaders expressed optimism that the agreements signed would further cement their economic and strategic partnership.
