PM Shehbaz arrives in Azerbaijan for trilateral summit
Prime Minister Muhammad Shehbaz Sharif is being received by Foreign Minister of Azerbaijan Jeyhun Bayramov at Lachin Airport. Photo: APP
Listen to article
Prime Minister Muhammad Shehbaz Sharif arrived in Lachin, Azerbaijan, on Tuesday to attend the Pakistan-Turkiye-Azerbaijan Trilateral Summit.
He was received at Lachin Airport by Azerbaijani Foreign Minister Jeyhun Bayramov, Pakistan's Ambassador to Azerbaijan Qasim Mohiuddin, and other diplomatic officials, according to a statement from the Prime Minister's Office.
The Pakistani delegation includes Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Mohammad Ishaq Dar, Information Minister Attaullah Tarar, and Special Assistant to the Prime Minister Tariq Fatemi.
Meanwhile, Chief of Army Staff Field Marshal Syed Asim Munir held high-level talks on Tuesday with Major General Mohammad Bagheri, Chief of the General Staff of the Iranian Armed Forces, at the General Staff Headquarters, as he visited Tehran as part of Pakistan's efforts to enhance regional military cooperation and stabilise border security.
The discussions centred on strengthening defence collaboration and refining existing border security mechanisms between the two neighbouring countries. The visit marks a continued push by both sides to address mutual concerns related to cross-border militancy, smuggling, and regional stability.
Earlier this month, amid rising tensions between Pakistan and India, Azerbaijan expressed support for Pakistan and solidarity with its government and people.
The Azerbaijani government condemned actions by the Indian military in a formal letter to Pakistan's Prime Minister.
The message, delivered by Azerbaijan's Ambassador Khazar Farhadov, included condolences for those affected by the conflict and wishes for the injured's recovery. Azerbaijan also urged both sides to seek a peaceful resolution through diplomatic means.
During the summit, Shehbaz Sharif is expected to join Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan and Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev for high-level talks aimed at strengthening trilateral cooperation.
The prime minister will also hold a bilateral meeting with President Aliyev during his visit.
Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif is on a six-day diplomatic tour of four countries, as Pakistan seeks to bolster regional partnerships following recent tensions with India.
The Foreign Office earlier said the premier is holding wide-ranging talks with the leadership of all four countries. He is also conveying Pakistan's appreciation for their support during the recent escalation.
Prime Minister Shehbaz arrived in Tehran on Monday, where he held talks with Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian at the historic Sa'dabad Palace. He also met Supreme Leader Ayatollah Sayyed Ali Khamenei.
Following their talks, the prime minister and President Pezeshkian addressed a joint media appearance. During the briefing, Shehbaz thanked Iran for its support during recent tensions between Pakistan and India.
He reiterated Pakistan's backing of Iran's right to pursue a peaceful nuclear programme, stating: 'We stand with our Iranian brothers and fully support Iran's right to a civilian nuclear programme.'
The prime minister has completed visits to Turkiye and Iran, and will conclude his regional tour in Tajikistan, where he is scheduled to attend the International Conference on Glaciers on May 29–30.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Express Tribune
36 minutes ago
- Express Tribune
Pakistan delegation to meet UN Security Council members today
Listen to article A high-level Pakistani delegation, led by former foreign minister and Pakistan Peoples Party Chairman Bilawal Bhutto Zardari, will meet representatives of all 15 UN Security Council member states, including the five permanent members today, Express News reported. The nine-member parliamentary delegation is currently in New York to hold meetings with UN Secretary-General António Guterres, the President of the UN General Assembly, and ambassadors of both permanent and non-permanent members of the Security Council. Read: Bilawal-led delegation in US to brief Pakistan's stance on Indian aggression The visit comes amid renewed tensions between Islamabad and New Delhi, prompting Pakistan to step up its diplomatic outreach on the international stage. Bilawal, accompanied by Senator Sherry Rehman, arrived in New York ahead of the scheduled meetings. The rest of the delegation including Hina Rabbani Khar, Dr Musadik Malik, Khurram Dastgir Khan, Bushra Anjum Butt, Tehmina Janjua, and Jalil Abbas Jilani is expected to arrive in phases. According to sources, the committee headed by Bilawal will meet members of the US administration, Congress, think tanks, and media outlets to brief them on Pakistan's stance regarding the escalating tensions with India. Read More: PM Shehbaz, Field Marshal Munir vow to crush Indian-sponsored terror in Balochistan at grand jirga The delegation aims to highlight what it calls the root causes of potential Pakistan-India conflict and raise concerns over India's disinformation campaigns and foreign-influenced operations targeting Pakistan. The committee will also meet United Nations Secretary-General António Guterres in New York, followed by meetings with senior officials of the Trump administration in Washington. A key focus will be the implications of any disruption to the Indus Waters Treaty and its potential impact on regional security. "The parliamentary team will communicate how India's provocations and disinformation threaten regional peace," a source familiar with the visit said. Also Read: Pakistan never requested ceasefire: DG ISPR The delegation is expected to remain in the US until June 9, after which it will travel to the United Kingdom and then continue on to various European countries. Prominent members of the delegation include former foreign minister Hina Rabbani Khar, former envoy Jalil Abbas Jilani, Khurram Dastgir, and Musadik Malik. After the ceasefire with India, Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif appointed Bilawal to lead a high-level delegation tasked with presenting 'Pakistan's case for peace' on recent Indian aggression to the international community. The committee will engage with global leaders and institutions to raise awareness about India's actions and Pakistan's concerns regarding the Indus Waters Treaty. The government has also planned to send additional delegations to other countries as part of a broader diplomatic outreach.
Express Tribune
3 hours ago
- Express Tribune
Field Marshal must act on Kashmir, Palestine too: Hafiz Naeem
Jamaat-e-Islami Pakistan Ameer Hafiz Naeemur Rehman has called on the country's military leadership to actively take up the causes of Kashmir and Palestine. Addressing a large rally titled "Down with Israel and India" at Koh-i-Noor Chowk, he said Pakistan must go beyond statements and play a leading role in supporting oppressed Muslims globally. He said, "If we don't raise our voice for Gaza and Kashmir, we will lose the nation's support. One who saves a life saves all humanity-this is our duty." He also criticised Pakistan's political elite for remaining silent on Israeli aggression, accusing PML-N, PPP and PTI of fearing US displeasure. Hafiz Naeem praised countries like South Africa, Spain and Ireland for taking a bold stand against Israel, and urged Pakistan to lead a Muslim world summit, both political and military, to demand an end to Israeli atrocities and Indian occupation in Kashmir. He warned that continued silence and inaction from Muslim rulers and Pakistan's own establishment would erode public trust. "People backed you against India despite their grievances. But if you stay quiet on Palestine and Kashmir, the nation will stop standing with you," he said.
Express Tribune
4 hours ago
- Express Tribune
India arrests 81 for 'sympathising' with Pakistan
Listen to article Indian police have arrested scores of people for "sympathising" with Pakistan, a month after the worst conflict between the arch-rivals for decades, a top government official said Sunday. The arrests took place in the northeastern state of Assam, where Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma said "81 anti-nationals are now behind bars for sympathising with Pak". Sarma, from Prime Minister Narendra Modi's Hindu nationalist ruling party, said in a statement "our systems are constantly tracking anti-national posts on social media and taking actions". One of the persons was arrested after he posted a Pakistani flag on his Instagram, Assam police told AFP. No further details about other arrests were given. There has been a wider clampdown on social media since an April 22 attack on tourists in IIOJK. Indian media have reported that Assam's government has allegedly rounded up dozens of alleged Bangladeshis in the past month and taken them to the frontier to cross. The Times of India newspaper on Saturday reported that Assam was "dumping them in no-man's land", suggesting that at least 49 had been pushed back between May 27-29 alone. The Assam government has not commented on the reports. Bangladesh, largely encircled by land by India, has seen relations with New Delhi turn icy, after the Dhaka government was toppled in an uprising last year. Bangladesh has also moved closer to China, as well as to Pakistan.
