President Ilham Aliyev and PM Shehbaz Sharif Hold High-Level Talks in Lachin
Lachin, The Gulf Observer: President of the Republic of Azerbaijan Ilham Aliyev held a limited format meeting with Prime Minister of the Islamic Republic of Pakistan Muhammad Shehbaz Sharif in the city of Lachin, reaffirming the deep-rooted ties and strategic partnership between the two brotherly nations.
Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, currently on a visit to Azerbaijan, expressed his deep satisfaction with the opportunity to visit the Karabakh and East Zangezur regions. He underscored Pakistan’s firm and consistent stance on the region, declaring, “Karabakh is Azerbaijan!” — a sentiment reaffirming Islamabad’s unwavering support for Azerbaijan’s sovereignty and territorial integrity.
The Prime Minister extended heartfelt congratulations to President Ilham Aliyev and the Azerbaijani people on the occasion of the country’s upcoming Independence Day. He praised the swift and remarkable restoration and construction efforts underway in Lachin and surrounding areas, hailing them as a testament to President Aliyev’s leadership. He further noted that, given its natural beauty and redevelopment, Lachin is poised to become one of the region’s most attractive tourist destinations in the near future.
President Ilham Aliyev recalled the painful history of occupation, stating that Lachin was among the first Azerbaijani districts to fall under occupation in 1992. He emphasized that during the three decades of Armenian control, Lachin was severely devastated and its Azerbaijani inhabitants were subjected to ethnic cleansing. The President added that wide-scale restoration and reconstruction work is now actively ongoing across the liberated territories, including Lachin.
During their discussion, Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif also highlighted that a ceasefire has been reached between India and Pakistan, expressing his country’s commitment to peace and regional stability. President Aliyev welcomed this development, affirming Azerbaijan’s support for resolving international issues through dialogue and diplomacy.
The leaders also exchanged views on further strengthening bilateral cooperation across a range of sectors, including economy, trade, science, education, high technologies, and student exchange initiatives. Both sides reaffirmed their intent to deepen collaboration and explore new avenues of partnership.
The meeting also served as a prelude to the upcoming trilateral summit between Azerbaijan, Türkiye, and Pakistan, scheduled to be held on May 28 in Lachin. The summit, which will include the participation of President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan of Türkiye, was noted as a powerful symbol of the enduring brotherhood and strategic unity among the three nations.
The visit of Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif and the trilateral summit underscore Azerbaijan’s growing role as a center for regional diplomacy and cooperation in the post-conflict South Caucasus.
