https://arab.news/v3a27
- Pakistan was among the first nations to recognize Azerbaijan, though their ties have deepened more recently
- Last year, Pakistan agreed to supply JF-17 fighter jets to Baku, highlighting bilateral defense cooperation
ISLAMABAD: Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif is scheduled to visit Azerbaijan at the beginning of next week, the foreign office said on Saturday, to discuss enhanced bilateral cooperation in areas like defense, trade and energy.
The visit comes as part of Pakistan’s broader economic diplomacy with landlocked Central Asian states, to which it has offered access to its southern ports in Karachi and Gwadar for international trade.
Pakistan’s economic engagement with Azerbaijan has also gained momentum more recently. Last year in July, the top leaders of both countries discussed investment and trade projects worth $2 billion during Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev’s state visit to Pakistan.
“At the invitation of President of Azerbaijan, Ilham Aliyev, Prime Minister Muhammad Shehbaz Sharif will pay a two-day state visit to the Republic of Azerbaijan from 24-25 February 2025,” the foreign office said in its statement, pointing out it would be Sharif’s second visit to the Central Asian state since assuming office last year.
“During the visit, the two sides will engage in wide-ranging discussions on areas of mutual interest in order to further strengthen bilateral cooperation, particularly in energy, trade, defense, education and climate sectors,” the statement continued.
The foreign office added that several agreements and memoranda of understanding were expected to be signed in multiple areas of cooperation during the visit.
Pakistan was among the first nations to recognize Azerbaijan’s independence in the early 1990s, though their ties have strengthened significantly in recent years. In September last year, Pakistan signed a contract to supply JF-17 Block III fighter jets to Azerbaijan, highlighting their deepening defense cooperation.
Beyond government-level collaboration, people-to-people exchanges between the two nations have also increased, with a growing number of Pakistanis traveling to Azerbaijan for tourism and business.
Sharif will be accompanied by a high-level delegation, including Deputy Prime Minister Ishaq Dar and other key cabinet members.