ISLAMABAD: Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif on Saturday reaffirmed Pakistan’s “deep-rooted, fraternal and strategic partnership” with Azerbaijan during a telephone conversation with President Ilham Aliyev, the Prime Minister’s Office said.
Reviewing bilateral ties, the two leaders agreed to translate their strong political understanding into closer economic, investment and commercial cooperation.
“The prime minister reaffirmed Pakistan’s deep-rooted, fraternal, and strategic partnership with Azerbaijan, characterised by mutual trust and steadfast support on all issues of core national interest,” the statement said.
They expressed satisfaction at the growing momentum in their multifaceted cooperation. The leaders also discussed progress on bilateral initiatives, particularly the operationalisation of the Asaan Khidmat Centre in Islamabad, modelled on Azerbaijan’s ASAN Khidmet service delivery system.
At the PM’s request, Mr Aliyev agreed to extend Azerbaijan’s full support for expanding the network across Pakistan. The prime minister thanked the Azerbaijani president for the gesture, describing it as another manifestation of enduring friendship and solidarity.
The two leaders exchanged views on the evolving regional and international situation, stressing the need for continued consultations. The prime minister briefed Mr Aliyev on Pakistan’s diplomatic outreach to promote regional peace and de-escalation, efforts Mr Aliyev acknowledged as important for stability.
PM Shehbaz also took to X to post about the conversation. “We reaffirmed the enduring friendship and strategic partnership between Pakistan and Azerbaijan, and our resolve to translate our strong bilateral ties into greater economic, investment and trade cooperation,” he said.
Published in Dawn, October 11th, 2026
