Azerbaijan president to visit Pakistan for two days

ISLAMABAD: President Ilham Aliyev of Azerbaijan will undertake a two-day official visit to Pakistan on July 11-12. The visit follows an invitation from Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif. President Aliyev will be accompanied by a high-level delegation that includes cabinet members and business leaders.

During the visit, President Aliyev is scheduled to meet separately with Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif and President Asif Zardari.

PM Shehbaz calls for plan to boost trade ties with Azerbaijan

Formal discussions between Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif and President Ilham Aliyev will take place at the Prime Minister’s office, covering various aspects of bilateral relations and cooperation. Several agreements and memoranda of understanding are expected to be signed during these talks.

Sources indicate that a preferential trade agreement between the two countries is likely to be signed. The Deputy Azeri Foreign Minister has already arrived in Islamabad to finalize the agenda for the talks and the drafts of various agreements and MOUs.

In 2024, 55,000 Pakistani citizens visited Baku on tourist visas, highlighting the potential for tourism between the two countries. Both Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif and President Asif Zardari will host a luncheon and banquet, respectively, in honour of President Ilham Aliyev.

Pakistan, Azerbaijan to boost cooperation in defence and energy sectors

Pakistan and Azerbaijan support each other on strategic issues. Pakistan has provided diplomatic and moral support to Azerbaijan during its conflict with Armenia, while Azerbaijan backs Pakistan’s stance on the Jammu and Kashmir issue.