Pakistan, Azerbaijan Strengthen Strategic Ties During High-Level Meetings
Islamabad, The Gulf Observer: Prime Minister of Pakistan Muhammad Shehbaz Sharif on Saturday received Khalaf Khalafov, Representative of the President of Azerbaijan on special assignments, who is currently on an official visit to the country.
During his visit, Khalaf Khalafov also held a meeting with Pakistan’s Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs, Mohammad Ishaq Dar.
According to the Azerbaijani Embassy in Pakistan, the meetings underscored the importance of the dynamic and steadily advancing relations between Pakistan and Azerbaijan, which are rooted in unshakable friendship and brotherhood. Both sides expressed satisfaction that the bilateral ties, characterized as strategic in nature, have reached a new level under the leadership of the President of Azerbaijan and the Prime Minister of Pakistan.
The two sides welcomed the recent intensive exchange of high-level visits and interactions across various international and regional platforms, noting that these engagements have added new depth and quality to bilateral cooperation.
The meetings reviewed prospects for further strengthening cooperation, with discussions focusing on expanding engagement in political, defense, and security spheres. The leaders also explored opportunities for implementing joint projects in a wide range of areas, including economy, trade, investment, tourism, information technology, artificial intelligence, agriculture, communications, and culture.
Both sides emphasized their continued mutual support and the active defense of each other’s legitimate interests at regional and international forums. The discussions also covered Azerbaijan’s current chairmanship of the Conference on Interaction and Confidence-Building Measures in Asia (CICA), with particular emphasis on efforts to transform CICA into a full-fledged international organization.
As part of his visit, Khalaf Khalafov also toured the Pakistani “ASAN Khidmet” Center, established on the basis of Azerbaijan’s internationally recognized “ASAN concept.” The center was inaugurated on January 14 this year with the participation of Prime Minister Muhammad Shehbaz Sharif. During the visit, Khalafov was briefed on the functioning of the facility and its role in enhancing public service delivery.
