Islamabad (GNP): The outgoing Ambassador of the Republic of Azerbaijan, Khazar Farhadov, paid a farewell call on President Asif Ali Zardari at Aiwan-e-Sadr.
The President commended his contribution to further strengthening the longstanding brotherly relations between Pakistan and Azerbaijan.
President Zardari mentioned that Pakistan deeply values Azerbaijan as a trusted brotherly country and strategic partner. He noted that bilateral ties, founded on mutual trust and steadfast support for each other’s core interests, continue to grow stronger.
The President appreciated the outgoing Ambassador’s role in the historic state visit of President Ilham Aliyev to Pakistan in July 2024, which marked a new chapter in bilateral relations.
President Zardari noted with satisfaction the enhanced trajectory of parliamentary, business, cultural and people-to-people exchanges between the two countries. He reiterated his deep commitment to translating the shared vision of the two countries’ leadership into tangible outcomes in trade and investment, connectivity, Information Technology, climate and tourism, as well as expanding defence and security cooperation.
President Zardari congratulated the outgoing Ambassador on the successful completion of his tenure in Islamabad and expressed his best wishes for his future endeavours.
The outgoing Ambassador, who is headed to Malaysia, told the President that Pakistan had been his first ambassadorial posting and would always remain his “first love”. “I will represent both Azerbaijan and Pakistan in Malaysia, President,” he said.
MTarana Farhadova was also present during the meeting. She presented a pictorial book to President Asif Ali Zardari documenting their five-year stay in Pakistan.
The Pakistan-Azerbaijan relations are rooted deep in history, reinforced by strong religious and cultural affinity, and powered by the notion of brotherhood beyond borders. The bilateral relationship has been further fortified in recent times, as evident from Azerbaijan’s unequivocal support to Pakistan during the May 2025 India-Pakistan conflict.
Pakistan also expressed similar support after the announcement of the historic Azerbaijan-Armenia Peace Agreement facilitated by President Trump. While congratulating Azerbaijan, Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif stated, “we stand with them at this proud moment of their history.”
The Azerbaijan-Armenia Peace deal is significant as it further optimizes Pakistan-Azerbaijan evolving relationship.
The evolving and all-encompassing nature of Pakistan-Azerbaijan relations represents a “true demonstration of brotherhood”.[2] Having established formal diplomatic relations in 1991, Pakistan and Azerbaijan have steadily strengthened cooperation in political, diplomatic, military, economic and cultural arenas.
The two countries extend full support to each others’ issues of core interests, including respect for sovereignty and territorial integrity. Pakistan has consistently supported Azerbaijan on Nagorno-Karabakh, while Azerbaijan supports Pakistan on the Jammu and Kashmir dispute. A high-level visit by President of Azerbaijan, Ilham Aliyev, to Pakistan, from 11-12 July 2024, further strengthened bilateral strategic partnership by expanding cooperation in key sectors. The visit culminated in the signing of 15 Memoranda of Understanding (MoUs) particularly relating trade and investment.
More recently, Azerbaijan’s diplomatic support to Pakistan in times of heightened tensions with India has been an exemplary show of brotherhood
Sohail Majeed is a Special Correspondent at The Diplomatic Insight. He has twelve plus years of experience in journalism & reporting. He covers International Affairs, Diplomacy, UN, Sports, Climate Change, Economy, Technology, and Health.
