Pakistan, Armenia formally establish diplomatic ties

Both countries agree to explore avenues of cooperation

ISLAMABAD:

Pakistan and Armenia on Sunday formally established diplomatic relations in what officials described as a historic step in Islamabad's diplomatic outreach.

Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Senator Ishaq Dar exchanged a joint communiqué with his Armenian counterpart, Ararat Mirzoyan, during a meeting in Tianjin, China, according to a statement issued by the Foreign Office.

The two leaders reaffirmed their commitment to the principles of the United Nations Charter and agreed to explore avenues of cooperation in areas such as economy, education, culture and tourism.

They also expressed their resolve to work together at bilateral and multilateral fora to advance their shared objectives of peace, progress and prosperity for the peoples of both countries.

This is the first time Pakistan and Armenia have entered into formal diplomatic relations.

The development comes days after Foreign Minister Dar held a telephonic conversation with his Armenian counterpart.

During the call, Dar welcomed the "historic peace agreement" between Armenia and Azerbaijan, terming it a positive step for regional stability and prosperity.

The establishment of diplomatic ties between Pakistan and Armenia is significant as Pakistan, along with Turkey, had for decades firmly sided with Azerbaijan in its conflict with Armenia over Nagorno-Karabakh.

Islamabad had no diplomatic relations with Yerevan and consistently supported Baku's stance at the United Nations and other international platforms. Armenia, in turn, traditionally aligned itself with India, including in the defence sector, as a counterbalance to Pakistan's position.

However, the recent Armenia-Azerbaijan peace agreement, hailed internationally as a landmark accord ending years of hostility, appears to have opened the door for a diplomatic thaw.

For Pakistan, this shift signals an opportunity to recalibrate its foreign policy in the South Caucasus while retaining close ties with Azerbaijan.

If formalised, Pakistan-Armenia relations would mark a significant diplomatic realignment and could ease long-standing friction in the region, observers say.