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ISLAMABAD: Pakistan&rsquo;s Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif on Friday condemned recent drone attacks targeting civilians in the Azeri region of Nakhchivan and expressed solidarity with both Azerbaijan and T&uuml;rkiye as tensions continue to rise across the wider region. In a statement posted on X, the prime minister said he spoke with Azerbaijan&rsquo;s President Ilham Aliyev and strongly denounced the attacks that struck civilian areas in the country&rsquo;s exclave of Nakhchivan. Sharif said he conveyed Pakistan&rsquo;s &ldquo;complete solidarity with the leadership and brotherly people of Azerbaijan&rdquo; during difficult time for the country. During the call, the prime minister also briefed Aliyev on Pakistan&rsquo;s ongoing diplomatic outreach in response to the rapidly evolving security situation in Iran and the broader Gulf region. Both leaders discussed the need to reduce tensions and agreed on the importance of diplomatic engagement to prevent further escalation. &ldquo;They agreed on the importance of de-escalation and stressed the urgent need to restore peace and stability in the region,&rdquo; officials said, adding that the two leaders would remain in close contact as developments unfold. In a separate message, PM Sharif also expressed deep concern over a recent attack targeting T&uuml;rkiye, reiterating Pakistan&rsquo;s support for Ankara amid the growing regional uncertainty. The prime minister said Pakistan stands &ldquo;in full solidarity with our brave Turkish brothers,&rdquo; warning that such incidents risk worsening an already volatile situation. Sharif reiterated that restraint and diplomacy remain essential to preventing a broader regional confrontation. &ldquo;The prime minister called for maximum restraint and emphasized the importance of dialogue and diplomacy to uphold respect for sovereignty and maintain peace and stability in the region,&rdquo; officials said. The diplomatic outreach comes as tensions across the Middle East and surrounding regions have escalated sharply following initial strikes by the United States and Israel on Iranian military and leadership targets, including facilities linked to the country&rsquo;s defense establishment. The strikes triggered retaliatory attacks by Iran across parts of the Gulf and neighboring regions, raising fears that the conflict could expand and draw in additional countries. Azerbaijan has accused Iran of carrying out drone strikes in its border region, with President Aliyev describing the attacks as &ldquo;terrorism&rdquo; after an airport and a school were reportedly hit. T&uuml;rkiye has also reported a missile-related incident linked to the widening hostilities. Turkish authorities said a ballistic missile launched from Iran traveled over Iraqi and Syrian airspace before being intercepted by NATO air defense systems. Against this backdrop, Pakistan has intensified diplomatic engagement with regional partners while calling for restraint, dialogue and renewed efforts to prevent the crisis from spiraling into a wider conflict.

Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif meets with President of Azerbaijan Illham Aliyev; Chief of the Army Staff Field Marshal Syed Asim Munir is also present (Friday, November 7, 2025). (File photo: Handout/PMO)

Foreign Affairs

Pakistan’s Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif condemned drone attacks in Azerbaijan’s Nakhchivan region and expressed solidarity with Azerbaijan and Türkiye, urging restraint and diplomacy as regional tensions escalate following retaliatory strikes linked to the widening Iran conflict.

Pakistan condemns attacks on Azerbaijan, Türkiye urges regional de-escalation

ISLAMABAD: Pakistan and Azerbaijan have agreed to expand cooperation across trade, energy, connectivity and defence sectors, as Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif met President Ilham Aliyev in Baku on Friday, the PM Office said. Chief of the Army Staff Field Marshal Syed Asim Munir also attended the meeting, reflecting the strategic nature of the discussions. During the talks at the Presidential Palace, the prime minister thanked President Aliyev for inviting him to attend Azerbaijan&rsquo;s Victory Day celebrations. He congratulated the government and people of Azerbaijan on the commemoration, marking the country&rsquo;s military success in the 44-day Karabakh conflict. The prime minister said Azerbaijan&rsquo;s victory &ldquo;serves as a beacon of hope for oppressed peoples seeking their right to self-determination, including the people of Indian Illegally Occupied Jammu and Kashmir and Palestine.&rdquo; The two leaders reviewed bilateral ties and agreed to reinforce what both sides described as a &ldquo;multi-layered partnership,&rdquo; the statement added. Areas identified for strengthened cooperation included political engagement, trade and investments, energy collaboration, regional connectivity, and defense exchanges. Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif invited President Aliyev to visit Pakistan at his earliest convenience, an invitation the Azri president accepted, according to the statement. PM Sharif also commended the peace agreement signed earlier this year between Azerbaijan and Armenia, noting its significance for regional stability. President Aliyev thanked Pakistan for its &ldquo;consistent and principled support&rdquo; during Azerbaijan&rsquo;s struggle over the Karabakh region and acknowledged Pakistan&rsquo;s role in promoting regional peace. Earlier in the day, Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif was received at Heydar Aliyev International Airport by First Deputy Prime Minister Yaqub Abdulla Oglu Eyyubev.

Chief of the Army Staff Field Marshal Syed Asim Munir also attends the meeting, reflecting the strategic nature of the discussions.

Articles tagged with "Pakistan Azerbaijan relations"

Pakistan condemns attacks on Azerbaijan, Türkiye urges regional de-escalation

Pakistan, Azerbaijan agree to deepen cooperation in trade, energy and defense