Pakistan, Azerbaijan and Turkiye are ‘brothers in arms’: PM Shehbaz

Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif has said that Pakistan stands shoulder to shoulder with its “Azerbaijani and Turkish brothers”, united by enduring bonds of faith, friendship and shared struggle.

During Azerbaijan’s Victory Day parade in Baku on Saturday, the prime minister said: “Pakistan is committed to peace and no country will be allowed to challenge our sovereignty or undermine our territorial integrity.”

Shehbaz said it was a proud sight to see Pakistani troops marching alongside Azerbaijani and Turkish contingents as JF-17 Thunder jets roared overhead, a symbol, he noted, of a friendship that had grown stronger and stronger over the years.

He recalled how Azerbaijani and Turkish soldiers marched with Pakistan’s armed forces in Islamabad on August 14 this year during the Maarka-e-Haq celebrations, which marked Pakistan’s victory in a four-day conflict with India.

The prime minister praised the “brave sons” of Azerbaijan who, under the “bold and visionary leadership” of President Ilham Aliyev, liberated their ancestral lands of Karabakh five years ago.

“Throughout this entire liberation struggle, Pakistan stood like a rock alongside its brother country, Azerbaijan,” he said, calling the victory “a beacon of hope” for all nations seeking self-determination, including the people of Gaza and India’s illegally occupied Jammu and Kashmir.

Referring to this year’s brief conflict with India, Shehbaz said Pakistan’s armed forces, under the command of Field Marshal Asim Munir, gave our enemy a bloody nose with a precise and highly effective military strike. He said Pakistan Air Force, led by Air Chief Marshal Zaheer Baber Sidhu, shot down seven enemy aircraft at lightning speed in defense of the motherland.

The prime minister praised Azerbaijan’s post-war reconstruction campaign, describing the reconstruction of Shusha, Khankendi, Fuzuli and Lachin as absolutely phenomenal. He also praised Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan’s visionary leadership in transforming Turkiye into a modern, strategic and economic power.

“True victory lies not only on the battlefield but in building bridges of peace and understanding,” commented Shehbaz, praising President Aliyev’s diplomatic efforts for peace and development.

He also expressed gratitude for US President Donald Trump’s “bold and decisive leadership” in negotiating a ceasefire between Pakistan and India, which he said “averted a major war and saved millions of people.”

Shehbaz thanked President Erdogan and Emir Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani of Qatar for their role in facilitating peace efforts between Pakistan and Afghanistan, describing their cooperation as a reflection of strong and time-tested brotherly ties.

The prime minister prayed for the martyrs of Azerbaijan and extended congratulations to Pakistan on the fifth anniversary of the country’s “glorious victory” in the 44-day Patriotic War.

In his remarks, President Ilham Aliyev thanked Shehbaz Sharif and Pakistan for their solidarity during the conflict with Armenia. He also expressed gratitude to Turkiye for his strong support and said that the joint participation of military contingents in the parade symbolized “unity, brotherhood and friendship.”

President Erdogan congratulated Azerbaijan on Victory Day and said the victory marked “not the end but the beginning of lasting peace in the region.” He also emphasized the importance of improving regional connectivity to promote trade and prosperity.

Azerbaijan celebrates Victory Day every year on November 8 to commemorate its success in the 2020 Nagorno-Karabakh War, which ended nearly three decades of Armenian occupation.