Pakistan continues to take effective measures for promoting and strengthening bilateral relations with friendly countries around the globe particularly those located in the Central Asian Region through exchange of appropriately high level visits here and there. This is in furtherance of the shift of policy from aids and loans to investment and collaborations in different sectors and is receiving quite positive and appreciative response from the friendly country which augurs well for streamlining the staggering national economy for the welfare and well-being of the people at large.
This was very firmly indicated by the recent two days goodwill visit of Azerbaijan President Illham Aliyev to Islmabad at the invitation of Prime Minister Muhammad Shehbaz Sharif which was quite hectic as well as successful for the mutual benefits both the brotherly countries.
The visiting Azerbaijan President held bilateral talks with the host PM, both Azeri and Pakistani leaders witnessed signing of a number of agreements of MOUs and addressed a joint press conference.The Azeri President also called on President Asif Ali Zardari. Top leadership of the two brotherly countries affirmed their commitment to expand bilateral ties for the mutual benefits.
President Illham Aliyev in a quite emphatic and appreciable manner said that the connection between both the countries is a big asset”we are brothers, we are friends, and we support each other on every international issue.
It is indeed very welcome that both Pakistan and Azerbaijan top leadership have agreed to expand investment volume up to $ 2 billion which was at the lowest level of just $ 100 million.currently. Hopefully, the two sides will sign agreements worth $ 2 billion when the PM visits Azerbaijan in November this year. to attend COP29 at Baku, capital of Azerbaijan, to start as there is great potential on both sides in bilateral trade, joint cooperation and joint investments..
During the distinguished guest’s visit, the two countries signed as many as 15 Memorandum of Understanding (MoUs) and agreements apparently as a concrete move to enhance and boost bilateral cooperation across various sectors including trade , commerce, tourism , minerals, science and technology, law, justice,and cultural exchange programmes as the visiting distinguished guest and the host PM witnessed.
The visit of President Ilham Aliyev was a strong indication that both Azerbaijan and Pakistan are heading towards developing a strategic partnership . The distinguished guest’s visit though was short but it has certainly and surely further strengthened bilateral diplomatic relations and economic ties which quite obviously augurs well for both the countries. Needless to mention here that the rapidly changing socio-economic, geopolitical and geostrategic changes, realities and compulsions have prompted the leadership m of both Pakistan and Azerbaijan to move forward and take effective measures for promoting mutual bilateral relations. Hopefully, the mutual consensus and cooperation between the two brotherly Islamic countries will be further enhanced on the North-South Corridor, greater regional connectivity , socio-economic integration, public- private partnership , investment, pharmaceuticals, textiles, food and energy security with the passage of time.
While the Azeri President thanked Pakistan for support on Armenia the host PM expressed gratitude to the distinguished guest for for continuously supporting Pakistan’s just cause on Kashmir describing it as a true sign of brotherhood and political understanding between Baku and Islamabad. Needless to mention here that Pakistan attaches great importance to its relationship with Azerbaijan as Islamabad is now focusing on the countries in the Central Asia. as both the countries are going to advance their cooperation in various sectors including tourism, transport, energy security and defence. It may also be mentioned here that finalizing, operationalizing and channeling the Preferential Trade Agreement (PTA) as well as Bilateral Transit Trade Agreement are quite crucial to further streamlining and systemizing the existing relations between the two countries.It is also good to mention here that both Azerbaijan and Pakistan are taking measures at the appropriate level for increasing bilateral investment especially in the energy sector.
Furthermore, brotherly relations between the two Islamic co countries will also be enhanced through exchange of parliamentary delegations , strengthening of cultural cooperation and also promotion of people-to-people contacts including the students, academia, businessmen and tourists. There are vast opportunities for promoting mutual relations in a number of diverse fields such econom, investment,special economic zones, CPEC, oil and gas, energy cooperation, agriculture cooperation, infrastructure development, dairy cooperation,climate change cooperation, hydropower energy, space sciences, establishing sustainable supply chains among a host of others.
Pakistan has special historic, cultural, social, political relations with Azerbaijan. Historically speaking, for centuries together the people of both the countries have been visiting, interacting and carrying the caravans of human values, ethnic diversity, education, commerce and above all mutual sinereity, respect and trust.
In conclusion, it may be briefly stated here that high level leadership exchanges between the brotherly Islamic countries do contribute a lot in promoting , strengthening and deepening the relations between the countries . As such, it can safely be said here that the visit of President Ilham Aliyev has gone a long way in promoting and strengthening the existing brotherly relations between Pakistan and Azerbaijan for mutual benefits of the people at large of both the countries.
—The writer is senior contributing columnist, based in Lahore.
