Aliyev updates Shehbaz over phone; PM lauds Trump’s mediation role
ISLAMABAD —
Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif has extended heartfelt congratulations to Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev on the signing of a historic peace deal between Azerbaijan and Armenia — a breakthrough hailed as a turning point for the South Caucasus and a pathway to lasting regional stability and prosperity.
According to the Prime Minister’s Office, President Aliyev phoned Shehbaz on Sunday to brief him on the accord and to discuss its implications for bilateral relations and future regional connectivity. The conversation, described by officials as “warm and cordial,” also touched on opportunities to strengthen trade and investment ties.
Shehbaz praised Aliyev’s “visionary leadership” in bringing an end to the decades-long Nagorno-Karabakh conflict, calling the agreement “a mutually beneficial resolution to one of the region’s most entrenched disputes.” He said the accord could “open a new era of stability and economic opportunity for the Caucasus,” and credited former US president Donald Trump for playing a constructive role in facilitating the breakthrough.
The Nagorno-Karabakh dispute — a mountainous region internationally recognised as part of Azerbaijan — has been the flashpoint of two wars between Baku and Yerevan: the first in the early 1990s after the collapse of the Soviet Union, and the second in 2020. Tensions reignited in September 2023, when Azerbaijan regained control of disputed areas in a swift 24-hour offensive. That military success set the stage for renewed diplomatic engagement, culminating in the US-brokered peace deal aimed at normalising relations and boosting trade, transport, and energy cooperation.
During the call, President Aliyev expressed gratitude for Pakistan’s “longstanding and unwavering” support on Nagorno-Karabakh. In response, Shehbaz remarked, “It has always been a duty for the people of Pakistan to stand by their Azerbaijani brothers and sisters.” Aliyev noted that a stable South Caucasus could serve as a vital link between Pakistan and Central Asia, unlocking fresh opportunities for regional trade and collaboration.
Both leaders voiced satisfaction over the “positive trajectory” of bilateral relations and reaffirmed their commitment to maintaining momentum. Referring to their recent meetings in Lachin and Khankendi, Shehbaz renewed his invitation for Aliyev to make an official visit to Pakistan. The two are also expected to meet again during the upcoming Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) summit in Tianjin.
Following the conversation, Shehbaz posted on X (formerly Twitter): “I conveyed warm felicitations to him and the people of Azerbaijan on the historic Azerbaijan–Armenia Peace Agreement. We also reviewed our bilateral ties and reaffirmed our resolve to build on this positive momentum.” He added that Pakistan looked forward to continued high-level exchanges with Azerbaijan in the days ahead.
