PM Returns After Attending Azerbaijan’s Victory Day Parade

News Desk 

Islamabad: Prime Minister Muhammad Shehbaz Sharif arrived in Islamabad Saturday night after concluding his visit to Azerbaijan, where he attended the country’s Victory Day celebrations in Baku as a special guest.

Addressing the Victory Day parade, the Prime Minister reiterated Pakistan’s unwavering commitment to peace while emphasizing that no one could be allowed to challenge the country’s sovereignty or undermine its territorial integrity.

“Pakistan, just like our Azerbaijani and Turkish brothers, seeks peace — but let there be no doubt, no one can ever be allowed to challenge our sovereignty or territorial integrity,” the Prime Minister said.

He hailed the strong fraternal ties between Pakistan, Turkiye, and Azerbaijan, describing them as “three brothers whose hearts beat together.” The Prime Minister expressed pride in witnessing Pakistan’s armed forces marching alongside their Azerbaijani and Turkish counterparts during the parade, calling it “a resounding symbol of enduring friendship that has grown from strength to strength over the years.”

Recalling recent joint military parades in Islamabad, Shehbaz Sharif said the participation of Azerbaijani and Turkish contingents alongside the Pakistan Armed Forces on August 14 this year was a moment of great pride and solidarity.

The Prime Minister praised Azerbaijan’s liberation of Karabakh under the “bold and visionary leadership” of President Ilham Aliyev, terming it “a glorious vindication of a just cause and a beacon of hope for all nations striving for sovereignty and self-determination, including the people of Gaza and Indian Illegally Occupied Jammu and Kashmir.”

He lauded the speed of reconstruction efforts in Shusha, Khankendi, Fuzuli, Lachin, and other liberated areas, appreciating President Aliyev’s personal commitment to the welfare and progress of the Azeri people.

Shehbaz Sharif also commended Turkiye’s remarkable development under President Recep Tayyip Erdogan, describing him as “a visionary leader who has transformed Turkiye into a modern, progressive, strategic, and economic power.”

Highlighting Pakistan’s defense readiness, the Prime Minister said that during the “four-day war with India” earlier this year, the Pakistan Armed Forces, under the command of Field Marshal Syed Asim Munir, delivered “a precise and highly effective military response that stunned the enemy.” He also praised the Pakistan Air Force, led by Air Chief Marshal Zaheer Baber Sidhu, for shooting down seven enemy aircraft in defense of the motherland.

Reaffirming Pakistan’s belief in peace, he said, “True victory lies not on the battlefield alone, but in building bridges of peace and understanding.”

The Prime Minister appreciated President Aliyev’s diplomatic efforts for regional stability and extended gratitude to U.S. President Donald J. Trump for his “decisive leadership” in bringing about a ceasefire between Pakistan and India, which he said “restored peace in South Asia and averted a major war.”

He also thanked President Erdogan and Qatar’s Emir Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani for their contributions to peace efforts between Pakistan and Afghanistan, noting that this cooperation reflected “the time-tested bonds between our brotherly nations.”

The Prime Minister prayed for the martyred souls of Azerbaijan’s armed forces and extended felicitations from the people of Pakistan to the Azerbaijani nation on the fifth anniversary of their 44-day Patriotic War victory.

In his remarks, President Ilham Aliyev thanked Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif and the people of Pakistan for their solidarity and support during Azerbaijan’s war with Armenia. He highlighted the unity among Azerbaijan, Turkiye, and Pakistan, demonstrated by the presence of their armed forces at the parade.

President Recep Tayyip Erdogan, in his address, congratulated Azerbaijan on its Victory Day, expressing his best wishes for lasting peace, prosperity, and regional connectivity.

Azerbaijan celebrates Victory Day on November 8, marking its triumph in the 2020 Second Nagorno-Karabakh War, which led to the liberation of territories held under Armenian occupation for nearly three decades.