Azerbaijan’s President Ilham Aliyev Visits Pakistan

Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif warmly welcomed Azerbaijan’s President Ilham Aliyev, who arrived in Islamabad for a two-day official visit at the invitation of the Prime Minister.

President Aliyev was greeted with a red carpet welcome at Pakistan Air Force’s Nur Khan base. Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, along with Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi, received the Azerbaijani leader. The welcoming ceremony included a 21-gun salute, highlighting the significance of this diplomatic visit.

During his stay, President Aliyev is scheduled to engage in wide-ranging discussions with key Pakistani leaders, including Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif and President Asif Ali Zardari. The meetings aim to explore and enhance areas of mutual interest, with several memorandums of understanding (MoUs) expected to be signed between the two nations.

President Zardari is set to host a banquet in President Aliyev’s honor. Additionally, the Azerbaijani president will meet with Chief of Army Staff (COAS) General Asim Munir, highlighting the importance of defense cooperation. Talks between the foreign ministers of both countries will take place at the Foreign Office, further cementing diplomatic ties.

This visit marks the beginning of a series of high-profile diplomatic engagements for Pakistan. In the next five months, Pakistan is expected to host five heads of state, including Saudi Arabia’s Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, United Arab Emirates President Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nihan, Qatar’s Emir Tamim al-Thani, and Turkey’s President Recep Tayyip Erdogan.

Earlier this year, Islamabad hosted the late Iranian President Ebrahim Raisi for a three-day visit. The visit resulted in productive discussions on advancing bilateral cooperation in various domains, including trade, connectivity, energy, and people-to-people contacts. President Raisi’s visit included meetings with top Pakistani officials and visits to key cities such as Islamabad, Lahore, and Karachi, accompanied by a high-level delegation.

The visit of Azerbaijan’s President Ilham Aliyev signifies a pivotal moment in Pakistan’s diplomatic calendar, with both nations poised to strengthen their bilateral cooperation. The expected signing of MoUs and high-level discussions underscore the commitment of Pakistan and Azerbaijan to forge a robust partnership.