Zubair Qureshi
Ambassador of Azerbaijan Khazar Farhadov on Wednesday expressed profound gratitude to the people and the government of Pakistan for extending support to Azerbaijan in conflict with Armenia over the Karabakh region and said Pakistan supported Azerbaijan’s principled stance since day one. This demonstrates the strong bond of friendship existing between the two nations over decades.
He also paid rich tributes to the martyrs and veterans of the Azerbaijan army for laying glorious sacrifices in liberation of the occupied areas during the 44-day Patriotic War in 2020.
Ambassador Khazar Farhadov was addressing the ‘Remembrance Day of the Republic of Azerbaijan’ and a book presentation ceremony ‘The History of the Patriotic War—The Personality Factor’ at the embassy.
The Remembrance Day ceremony was a well-attended event and one could see Senators Muhammad Talha Mahmood, Mushahid Hussain Sayed, Turkish ambassador Mehmet Pacaci, Representative of the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus (TRNC) Dilshad Senol, Dean of Diplomatic Corps Turkmenistan Ambassador Atadjan Movlamov, Kyrgyz Republic Ambassador Ulanbek Totuiaev, Director General (DG) of the Institute of Strategic Studies (ISSI) former Ambassador Sohail Mahmood, former ambassador Khalid Mehmood, senior officials of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs felicitating Ambassador Khazar and his team over the third anniversary of the historic day and victory in the war against Armenia.
Ambassador Khazar said Pakistan and Turkiye remained steadfast in their support and the Azerbaijan leadership, government and the people highly value and appreciate this gesture of friendship and sincerity.
While thanking the guests, Ambassador Khazar said Armenia kept Azerbaijan’s territories under illegal occupation for almost 30 years till 2020 and during all these years, Armenia continued to commit provocations against Azerbaijan. However, three years ago, on September 27, 2020, a counter-offensive was launched in response to Armenia’s yet another large-scale military attack on Azerbaijani Army positions and civilian settlements. At the end of the 44-day Patriotic War, under the leadership of the Supreme Commander-in-Chief of the Azerbaijani Armed Forces, President Ilham Aliyev, our army liberated Azerbaijan’s territories from Armenian occupation and Armenia was forced to sign an act of capitulation, he said. Right after the liberation, Azerbaijan started massive reconstruction and restoration works in the liberated areas by allocating billions of dollars. Fuzuli and Zangilan International Airports have already been constructed, and Lachin International Airport is underway and will be completed soon, the ambassador said. Shusha, the cultural capital of Azerbaijan and Aghdam has already become a venue for international events. Even the “Pakistan Colors” group performed the “Bhangra” dance at the 5th “Kharibulbul” International Folklore Festival which was held in Shusha in May 2022, the ambassador noted joyfully.
As a sign of deep respect for Azerbaijani soldiers and officers, all the martyrs, who fought heroically in the Patriotic War, waved the Azerbaijani flag in the liberated lands and sacrificed their lives for the territorial integrity of Azerbaijan, September 27 is marked as Remembrance Day in Azerbaijan every year, the ambassador further said. The ambassador prayed for the blessings of the souls of Azerbaijan’s martyrs.
