Prime Minister Muhammad Shehbaz Sharif arrived in Lachin, Azerbaijan, on Tuesday to take part in the Pakistan-Turkiye-Azerbaijan Trilateral Summit.
He was welcomed at Lachin Airport by Azerbaijani Foreign Minister Jeyhun Bayramov, Pakistan’s Ambassador to Azerbaijan Qasim Mohiuddin, and other diplomatic officials, as confirmed by the Prime Minister’s Office.
The Pakistani delegation accompanying him includes Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Mohammad Ishaq Dar, Information Minister Attaullah Tarar, and Special Assistant to the Prime Minister Tariq Fatemi.
Meanwhile, Chief of Army Staff Field Marshal Syed Asim Munir held high-level discussions with Major General Mohammad Bagheri, Chief of the General Staff of the Iranian Armed Forces, in Tehran on Tuesday. This meeting is part of Pakistan’s broader efforts to boost regional military cooperation and ensure border security.
The talks focused on reinforcing defence collaboration and refining border security mechanisms, reflecting both countries’ commitment to addressing challenges like cross-border militancy, smuggling, and regional stability.
Earlier this month, against a backdrop of rising tensions between Pakistan and India, Azerbaijan voiced its support for Pakistan and conveyed solidarity with its government and people.
The Azerbaijani government condemned the Indian military’s actions in a formal letter to Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif. Azerbaijan’s Ambassador Khazar Farhadov delivered the message, which also offered condolences for the victims of the conflict and urged both sides to resolve the dispute through dialogue.
At the trilateral summit, Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif is expected to join Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan and Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev for high-level talks to advance trilateral cooperation.
Additionally, the prime minister will hold a bilateral meeting with President Aliyev during his stay.
Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif’s visit to Azerbaijan is part of his six-day diplomatic tour of four countries, aimed at strengthening regional ties following recent tensions with India.
The Foreign Office said the prime minister is holding extensive discussions with the leadership of each country, expressing Pakistan’s gratitude for their support during the latest escalation.
On Monday, Prime Minister Shehbaz was in Tehran, where he met Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian at the historic Sa’dabad Palace. He also held discussions with Supreme Leader Ayatollah Sayyed Ali Khamenei.
During a joint press appearance after talks with President Pezeshkian, Shehbaz expressed appreciation for Iran’s solidarity during the Pakistan-India tensions and reiterated Pakistan’s support for Iran’s right to a peaceful nuclear programme.
Prime Minister Shehbaz has already visited Turkiye and Iran and will wrap up his regional tour in Tajikistan, where he is scheduled to attend the International Conference on Glaciers on May 29–30.
