Pakistan, Turkey and Azerbaijan are ‘brothers in arms,’ PM Shehbaz says in Baku

Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif said Pakistan stood with its “Azerbaijani and Turkish brothers,” bound by enduring bonds of faith, friendship and common struggle.

Addressing Azerbaijan’s Victory Day parade in Baku on Saturday, the prime minister said, “Pakistan is committed to peace and no country will be allowed to challenge our sovereignty or undermine our territorial integrity.”

Shehbaz said it was a proud sight to see Pakistani troops marching alongside Azerbaijani and Turkish contingents as JF-17 Thunder jets roared overhead – a symbol, he noted, of a friendship that has continued to grow stronger over the years.

He recalled how Azerbaijani and Turkish soldiers marched alongside Pakistani armed forces in Islamabad on August 14 this year, during Maarka-e-Haq celebrations, marking Pakistan’s victory in a four-day conflict with India.

The prime minister hailed the “brave sons” of Azerbaijan who, under the “bold and visionary leadership” of President Ilham Aliyev, liberated their ancestral lands of Karabakh five years ago.

“Throughout this liberation struggle, Pakistan stood like a rock alongside its sister country Azerbaijan,” he said, calling the victory a “beacon of hope” for all nations seeking self-determination – including the people of Gaza and Indian-illegally occupied Jammu and Kashmir.

Referring to this year’s brief conflict with India, Shehbaz said the Pakistani armed forces, under the command of Field Marshal Asim Munir, bloodied the nose of our enemy with a precise and highly effective military punch. He said Pakistan Air Force, led by Air Chief Marshal Zaheer Baber Sidhu, shot down seven enemy aircraft at lightning speed to defend the motherland.

The Prime Minister praised Azerbaijan’s post-war reconstruction effort, calling the reconstruction of Shusha, Khankendi, Fuzuli and Lachin absolutely phenomenal. He also praised the visionary leadership of Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan in transforming Turkey into a modern, strategic and economic power.

“The real victory lies not only on the battlefield, but in building bridges of peace and understanding,” Shehbaz remarked, praising President Aliyev’s diplomatic efforts towards peace and development.

He also expressed appreciation for US President Donald Trump’s “bold and decisive leadership” in brokering a ceasefire between Pakistan and India, which he said “averted a major war and saved millions of people.”

Shehbaz thanked President Erdogan and Emir of Qatar Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani for their role in facilitating peace efforts between Pakistan and Afghanistan, describing their cooperation as a reflection of strong and time-tested brotherly ties.

The Prime Minister prayed for Azerbaijan’s martyrs and extended Pakistan’s congratulations on the fifth anniversary of the country’s “glorious victory” in the 44-day Patriotic War.

In his speech, President Ilham Aliyev thanked Shehbaz Sharif and Pakistan for their solidarity during the conflict with Armenia. He also expressed gratitude to Turkey for its unwavering support, saying the joint participation of military contingents in the parade symbolized “unity, brotherhood and friendship.”

President Erdogan congratulated Azerbaijan on its Victory Day and said the triumph marked “not the end but the beginning of lasting peace in the region.” He also highlighted the importance of enhanced regional connectivity to promote trade and prosperity.

Azerbaijan celebrates Victory Day on November 8 each year to commemorate its success in the 2020 Nagorno-Karabakh war, which ended nearly three decades of Armenian occupation.