PM congratulates Azerbaijan's Aliyev on peace deal with Armenia
Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif shakes hands with President of Azerbaijan Ilham Aliyev during their meeting in Samarkand, Uzbekistan, on September 16, 2022. Photo: APP/ File
President Ilham Aliyev of Azerbaijan spoke with Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif on Sunday, expressing deep appreciation for Pakistan's steadfast support on the Karabakh issue, Radio Pakistan reported.
The prime minister extended warm felicitations to President Aliyev and the people of Azerbaijan on their country’s historic peace agreement with Armenia. He commended Aliyev’s visionary leadership in resolving the three-decade-old conflict, calling it a pivotal step toward regional prosperity.
Emphasising Pakistan’s duty to assist its Azerbaijani brothers and sisters, the premier said: “It is heartening that under President Aliyev’s bold leadership and statesmanship, peace has finally been established. Pakistan stands firmly with Azerbaijan.”
Spoke with my dear brother President ilham Aliyev @presidentaz this evening.
Conveyed warm felicitations to him and the people of Azerbaijan on the historic Azerbaijan-Armenia Peace Agreement, reached in Washington DC.
Lauded him for his vision and statesmanship, and deeply…PM Shehbaz also lauded US President Donald Trump’s role in brokering the accord, noting his contributions to ending both the Karabakh and the recent Indo-Pak conflicts.
President Aliyev, in turn, highlighted that the era of steady peace will enhance connectivity opportunities between Pakistan and Central Asia. Both leaders expressed contentment at the advancement of bilateral cooperation and reaffirmed mutual goodwill.
Recalling their recent interactions in Lachin and Khankendi, the prime minister reiterated his invitation for an official visit by President Aliyev to Pakistan. The two are expected to meet again in Tianjin during the upcoming SCO Summit.
Read More: Azerbaijan, Armenia sign US-brokered peace deal
On Friday, Azerbaijan and Armenia concluded a US‑brokered peace agreement—facilitated by President Trump—marking a major diplomatic milestone. The deal aims to normalise relations, increase economic integration, uphold territorial integrity, and includes US development rights to a strategic transit corridor through the South Caucasus.
Armenia and Azerbaijan have been at odds since the late 1980s when Nagorno-Karabakh, a mountainous Azerbaijani region mostly populated by ethnic Armenians, broke away from Azerbaijan with support from Armenia. Azerbaijan took back full control of the region in 2023, prompting almost all of the territory's 100,000 ethnic Armenians to flee to Armenia.
Under the Soviet Union, Nagorno-Karabakh became an autonomous region within the republic of Azerbaijan, and it enjoyed de facto independence for decades after Soviet collapsed in 1991.