Azerbaijan Marks Remembrance Day in Islamabad to Honour 2020 Patriotic War Martyrs

Islamabad, The Gulf Observer: The Embassy of Azerbaijan in Pakistan commemorated Remembrance Day on Friday at the National University of Sciences and Technology (NUST), Islamabad, to pay homage to the Azerbaijani military personnel martyred in the 44-day Patriotic War of 2020.

The conference, titled “27 September – Remembrance Day: The Great Heroism”, was held at the Heydar Aliyev Auditorium of NUST. It was attended by Azerbaijan’s Ambassador to Pakistan Khazar Farhadov, foreign envoys based in Islamabad, Pakistani diplomats, former Federal Information Minister Senator Mushahid Hussain Sayed, Pro Rector of NUST Major General (R) Arif Malik, journalists, faculty members, and students.

Addressing the gathering, Ambassador Khazar Farhadov said that September 27 symbolizes a day of great heroism and sacrifice for Azerbaijan, as it marked the beginning of the Patriotic War that restored the country’s territorial integrity after nearly three decades of Armenian occupation. He noted that the victory not only reaffirmed Azerbaijan’s sovereignty but also restored the fundamental rights of almost one million displaced Azerbaijanis. He praised the courage of the Azerbaijani Armed Forces under the leadership of President Ilham Aliyev and acknowledged Pakistan’s unwavering support during the war.

Highlighting Azerbaijan’s current peace efforts, including the initiation of a peace agreement with Armenia in Washington in August this year, the ambassador stressed that lasting peace and prosperity in the region depend on partnership and dialogue. Paying tribute to Azerbaijan’s martyrs, he said their sacrifice paved the way for sovereignty, stability, and the future prosperity of the South Caucasus.

Speaking on the occasion, Senator Mushahid Hussain Sayed emphasized the long-standing solidarity between Pakistan and Azerbaijan, noting their mutual support on the issues of Karabakh and Kashmir. He criticized the double standards of Western powers, which he said have repeatedly failed Muslim nations in times of crisis. The senator lauded the decisive leadership of President Ilham Aliyev in liberating Azerbaijani territories and praised Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan as a leader of the Muslim world.

In his remarks, NUST Pro Rector Major General (R) Arif Malik paid rich tribute to Heydar Aliyev, the National Leader of Azerbaijan, calling him a great visionary. He underlined the sacrifices made by both Pakistan and Azerbaijan in combating terrorism and noted the deepening cooperation between the two countries in trade, energy, defence, and education sectors.

Remembrance Day is observed annually on September 27 in Azerbaijan and around the world by its friends and partners to honour the sacrifices of Azerbaijani soldiers who laid down their lives during the Patriotic War of 2020.