Latest news with #Aliyev
Business Recorder
4 days ago
- Politics
- Business Recorder
PM praises bravery of Azeri people
LACHIN (Azerbaijan): Prime Minister Muhammad Shehbaz Sharif on Wednesday called for unity, peace and justice in the region while highlighting the deepening bonds among Pakistan, Azerbaijan, and Turkey, declaring the relationship as now 'three souls and one heart.' In his address at the Independence Day Ceremony of the Republic of Azerbaijan in Lachin, PM Shehbaz praised the leadership and bravery of the Azerbaijani people, who under President Aliyev's 'visionary and dynamic leadership' liberated the region of Karabakh after decades of occupation. The addressing dignitaries also included President Ilham Aliyev of Azerbaijan and President Recep Tayyip Erdogan of Turkiye. Pakistan, Azerbaijan vow to diversify partnership 'It is a matter of great honour to be here today, celebrating both Azerbaijan's Independence Day and Pakistan's Youm-e-Takbeer — the day we became a nuclear power in 1998,' the Prime Minister stated, underscoring the symbolic significance of May 28 for both nations. In his address, the Prime Minister expressed heartfelt congratulations to the people of Azerbaijan and paid tribute to the sacrifices of their armed forces and martyrs. He emphasized the unwavering support that Pakistan and Turkey provided during Azerbaijan's struggle for territorial integrity. 'When Armenia attacked Azerbaijan, Pakistan and Turkey stood like a rock beside it. And today, when India attacked Pakistan, President Erdogan and President Aliyev stood like a formidable fortress beside us. This is true brotherhood,' Shehbaz Sharif said. The Prime Minister spoke candidly about recent hostilities between India and Pakistan. Referring to the April 22 incident in Pahalgam, Indian Illegally Occupied Jammu and Kashmir, where 26 civilians were killed, he condemned India's immediate blame on Pakistan without evidence. 'Pakistan offered an international inquiry commission for a free and transparent probe, but instead, India launched a deadly attack that killed 36 innocent Pakistanis, including children,' he revealed. 'We had no choice but to defend our nation.' Shehbaz detailed Pakistan's military response, describing the downing of six Indian fighter jets — including four Rafales — and significant damage to Indian military installations. He praised the composure and leadership of Pakistan's armed forces, particularly Air Chief and Field Marshal COAS Asim Munir, for a swift and measured retaliation. 'At 9 am, Field Marshal Asim Munir informed me that India had requested a ceasefire. I said, Allah Almighty has granted us a glowing victory — we must now act wisely, not prolong the conflict.' Shehbaz Sharif also turned attention to other global humanitarian crises, particularly in IIOJK and Gaza. 'The valley of Kashmir is red with the blood of freedom fighters. Despite tyranny and brutality, they stand firm in their pursuit of freedom — a right enshrined in UN Security Council resolutions,' he said, reaffirming Pakistan's unwavering support. Addressing the tragedy in Gaza, PM Shehbaz condemned the ongoing atrocities: 'Over 52,000 Palestinians — children, women, the elderly — have been martyred. Their blood stains the streets of Gaza. There is no modern precedent to this level of brutality.' He called on the international community to awaken its conscience and echoed global praise for President Erdogan's vocal advocacy for the oppressed. 'Let our voices rise — in the name of God — to demand a ceasefire and justice for the people of Gaza.' Describing the trilateral meeting between Pakistan, Turkey, and Azerbaijan as 'productive and inspiring,' PM Shehbaz concluded his address with a call for regional unity and enduring friendship. 'Our flags today flutter high — as emblems of unity, hope, and strength,' he said, adding, 'We will continue to stand with our brothers and sisters, whether in Karabakh, Kashmir, or Gaza. This is our shared commitment, our shared destiny.'
Express Tribune
5 days ago
- Business
- Express Tribune
Shehbaz, Aliyev pledge to diversify strategic ties
Listen to article Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif and Azerbaijan President Ilham Aliyev reaffirmed on Tuesday the shared commitment to diversifying the bilateral strategic partnership through investment in mutually beneficial avenues, said a news release issued from the Prime Minister's Office. Shehbaz met with President Aliyev in the city of Lachin for talks on "the full spectrum of bilateral relations". During the meeting, both sides underscored the importance of coordinated efforts for regional stability and reiterated their principled positions on key international issues. The talks on Azerbaijan's Independence Day and on the eve of a trilateral summit of Pakistan, Azerbaijan and Turkiye, added a symbolic dimension to the exchange between the two leaders. Shehbaz felicitated President Aliyev on this important national occasion. The prime minister thanked Azerbaijan for its steadfast support during the recent Pakistan-India confrontation and acknowledged the public expressions of solidarity from both the leadership and the people of brotherly Azerbaijan. Shehbaz noted that the people of Azerbaijan celebrated the success of Pakistan in Maarka-e-Haq. He added that both the countries had stood by each other on every occasion and would continue to do so, the news release stated. "The two leaders reviewed the full spectrum of bilateral relations and expressed satisfaction over the upward trajectory of political, economic, defence, and cultural cooperation between Pakistan and Azerbaijan," read the news release. "They reaffirmed their shared commitment to diversifying the strategic partnership through investment in mutually beneficial avenues," it said, adding that the Azerbaijan side agreed that delegation-level talks in this regard would be organised very soon. The prime minister noted that holding the bilateral meeting in Lachin, a city that reflects Azerbaijan's journey of resilience and restoration, carried deep symbolic and emotional significance for both sides, according to the news release. The meeting concluded with both leaders reaffirming their commitment to deepening the Pakistan-Azerbaijan partnership and working closely to further advance their shared objectives at the bilateral and regional levels. Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar, Chief of Army Staff Field Marshal Syed Asim Munir, Federal Minister for Information Attaullah Tarrar and Special Assistant to Prime Minister Tariq Fatemi were also present on the occasion. (WITH INPUT FROM APP)
Business Recorder
6 days ago
- Business
- Business Recorder
PM Shehbaz, President Aliyev reaffirm strategic ties in Lachin meeting
Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif met with Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev on Tuesday, ahead of a trilateral summit between Pakistan, Azerbaijan, and Türkiye. The meeting, which coincides with Azerbaijan's Independence Day, was held in Lachin – a city that reflects Azerbaijan's resilience and post-conflict recovery. The high-level Pakistani delegation included Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Senator Ishaq Dar, Chief of Army Staff Field Marshal Syed Asim Munir, Federal Minister for Information Attaullah Tarar, and Special Assistant to the Prime Minister Tariq Fatemi. PM Shehbaz arrives in Azerbaijan During the talks, the two sides reviewed the entire spectrum of bilateral cooperation, expressing satisfaction over the growing momentum in political, economic, defence, and cultural ties. Both leaders reaffirmed their commitment to expand the strategic partnership through joint investments and mutually beneficial initiatives. Prime Minister Sharif extended heartfelt congratulations to President Aliyev and the people of Azerbaijan on their national day, and appreciated the warm expressions of solidarity shown by Baku during the recent Pakistan-India tensions. He acknowledged the vocal support of the Azerbaijani leadership and public, saying that 'the people of Azerbaijan celebrated Pakistan's success in the Maarka-e-Haq against India.' Pakistan, Iran vow to boost military ties as Field Marshal Munir meets Iranian leadership: ISPR President Aliyev and Prime Minister Sharif agreed to strengthen investment cooperation, with both countries set to initiate delegation-level talks shortly to explore potential avenues. Both sides also emphasised coordinated efforts to promote regional stability, economic integration, and principled positions on global issues. The meeting concluded with a renewed pledge to deepen Pakistan-Azerbaijan ties and enhance collaboration at the bilateral and multilateral levels.
Arab News
6 days ago
- Business
- Arab News
Pakistan's PM arrives in Azerbaijan for trilateral summit amid regional diplomacy following India standoff
ISLAMABAD: Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif arrived in Azerbaijan on Tuesday as part of a regional diplomacy tour following a military standoff with India, where he will attend a trilateral summit with the Azerbaijani and Turkish presidents on trade, connectivity and strategic cooperation. The visit to Azerbaijan marks the third stop on Sharif's five-day diplomatic push, which began in Türkiye and continued in Iran. The tour follows a four-day military escalation earlier this month that saw Islamabad and New Delhi trade missile, drone and artillery strikes after an attack in Indian-administered Kashmir killed 26 people. India blamed Pakistan for the incident in Kashmir, though Islamabad denied involvement and called for an international investigation. As the situation escalated, Türkiye and Azerbaijan expressed support for Pakistan, prompting Sharif to convey his gratitude to both countries. 'Prime Minister Muhammad Shehbaz Sharif has arrived in the Azerbaijani city of Lachin to participate in the Pakistan-Türkiye-Azerbaijan trilateral summit,' Sharif's office announced in a statement. 'He will join Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan and Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev for the meeting and will also hold a bilateral discussion with President Aliyev,' it added. Sharif was received at Lachin airport by Azerbaijani Foreign Minister Jeyhun Bayramov, Pakistan's Ambassador Qasim Mueenuddin and senior diplomatic staff. He is accompanied by Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar, Information Minister Attaullah Tarar and Special Assistant Tariq Fatemi. At the start of his regional visit, Sharif met Erdogan in Türkiye and thanked him for Ankara's strong backing during the recent military conflict with India. The two leaders discussed expanding cooperation in defense production, energy, IT and infrastructure. They also agreed to pursue a bilateral trade target of $5 billion, building on commitments made during the 7th High-Level Strategic Cooperation Council in Islamabad earlier this year. Sharif also visited Tehran, where he held meetings with President Masoud Pezeshkian and Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei. He offered peace talks to India on contentious issues including Kashmir, water-sharing and counterterrorism, pointing out Pakistan was 'serious' about resolving long-standing disputes with its nuclear neighbor. The Iranian leadership welcomed Pakistan's approach, affirming Tehran's support for peaceful dialogue and regional security. Pakistan and Azerbaijan have in recent years strengthened ties through defense and energy cooperation and Baku has supported Islamabad's position on Kashmir in international forums. Islamabad has offered Azerbaijan access to its seaports to facilitate trade with global markets and has promoted regional connectivity initiatives linking Central Asia to South Asia. The trilateral summit in Lachin is expected to further strengthen ties among the three Muslim-majority countries.
Budapest Times
22-05-2025
- Business
- Budapest Times
Orbán: Hungary's energy supply is secure thanks to the Turkic countries
After meeting Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev at his office in Budapest on Tuesday, Prime Minister Viktor Orbán said Hungary's energy supply is secure thanks to the Turkic countries. At a joint press conference with Aliyev, PM Orbán said households would pay 2-3 times the price of energy if it were not for 'our Turkic friends', noting that the first shipment of natural gas from Azerbaijan arrived in Hungary last year and the country would import similar volumes this year too. PM Orbán said Azerbaijan had always been a staunch partner, no matter what difficulties Hungary had faced in recent decades. The prime minister said that at a time when global security 'is being tested by challenges', the value of 'reliable partners' meeting to review bilateral ties and assess the international situation should not be underestimated. For the first time in the history of the Organisation of Turkic States, Hungary is hosting one of its summits, PM Orbán noted. He said the war in Hungary's neighbourhood and the related sanctions had cost the economy more than 20 billion euros so far. He said that instead of isolating the conflict, the European Union had chosen to expand it and had backed war over peace, 'and this has caused a lot of damage.' 'The European economy is also in a difficult situation because the war and the sanctions have destroyed the strategic foundations of what had been successful economic growth,' PM Orbán said, adding that 'the ship of the European economy has to be navigated without a compass', which had led to a continuous energy crisis. Europeans, he said, were paying 3-4 times as much as Americans for gas and electricity, which had made it impossible to build a competitive economy. Meanwhile, he said Hungary had fought to be able to maintain energy relations with Russia, to which the Ukrainians had responded by 'turning off the Ukrainian pipeline'. 'It was after this that we made an agreement with our Turkic friends on supplying Hungary from the south,' he noted. The prime minister said Hungary appreciated that Azerbaijan has enabled Hungarian state-owned energy group MVM and oil and gas company MOL to acquire shares in its gas fields and pipelines. Hungary's stake in Azerbaijan's oil and gas fields ensures that it has hundreds of millions of cubic metres of gas and hundreds of thousands of barrels of oil a year on the international energy market, he added. Hungary and Azerbaijan have also agreed to expand their cooperation to the area of renewable energy, PM Orbán said. He said his talks with Aliyev had also covered economic matters and the issue of peace, adding that they had always agreed that the war could only be resolved through negotiations. PM Orbán congratulated Aliyev on finalising the text of an Azeri-Armenian peace agreement. He said the agreement was a good example of how a war could be resolved through diplomacy, adding that when it came to peace, every bit of success was 'hugely important' for Hungary in today's 'turbulent' international situation. Aliyev praised the two countries' friendly relations. He said the fact that Hungary was hosting a summit of the Organisation of Turkic States as an observer country proved its strong ties to its historical roots. He congratulated Hungary on its achievements, saying it was one of a handful of countries that pursued an independent foreign policy. Aliyev said Azerbaijan had always appreciated and respected how PM Orbán had upheld his country's national interests. He said Hungary had protected its national interests and had joined initiatives that had proven beneficial.
