Fuad Huseynzade
Azerbaijan has repeatedly urged Armenia to stop provocative actions. However, the attempts of the occupying Armenia to drag Azerbaijan into the war by disrupting the peace process cost them very heavy losses. Within 44 days, the powerful Azerbaijani army inflicted devastating blows on Armenia and took back our occupied lands. The Islamic Republic of Pakistan gave the most political and moral support to Azerbaijan after Turkey during this war. At the same time, the Pakistani diaspora in different countries also demonstrated solidarity with the Azerbaijani diaspora in those days. Pakistan has once again demonstrated that it is a friendly and brotherly country. President of the Republic of Azerbaijan Ilham Aliyev has received a delegation led by chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff Committee of the Islamic Republic of Pakistan, general Nadim Razan. “This support is provided by US in the UN, the Organization of Islamic Cooperation and other international organizations,” the head of state added. All this is due to the deep historical roots of the bilateral relations between Azerbaijan and Pakistan. Because both peoples cherish mutual respect for each other and have the same values. Pakistan is one of the first countries to recognize its independence. Diplomatic relations between the two countries were established on June 9, 1992. Azerbaijan has consistently defended the interests of Pakistan, one of the closest and friendly countries, in all international organizations and expressed an unequivocal attitude to the aggression of Armenia. On April 30, 1993, the UN Security Council chaired the iclasa Pakistan, where the first resolution 822 on the Armenian-Azerbaijani Nagorno-Karabakh conflict was adopted. During the years of independence, multifaceted steps have been taken to develop Azerbaijani-Pakistani relations and expand our relations in various fields. In general, strategic partnership between Azerbaijan and Pakistan is developing successfully, friendly relations are strengthening even more. During the Vatan war, we witnessed the strength of this friendship once again. Pakistan, which has always supported Azerbaijan’s fair position on the international arena, has stood by Azerbaijan since the war of Independence. During the April battles we won in 2016, the officials of the fraternal country issued a statement expressing support for Azerbaijan. According to the official state agency of Azerbaijan, on the first day of the Vatan war, the Pakistani Foreign Ministry issued a statement: “We condemn the intensive shooting by the Armenian Armed Forces of the villages of tartar, Aghdam, Fizuli and Jabrayil districts of Azerbaijan on September 27 and this is another provocation. This is a serious threat to the peace and security of the entire region. Pakistan stands by the brotherly people of Azerbaijan and supports its territorial integrity. We support Azerbaijan’s position based on the UN Security Council resolutions on Nagorno-Karabakh.” In addition, on September 30, the official Twitter page of the Pakistani Senate shared a statement of support for Azerbaijan. On October 18, 2020, Prime Minister of the Islamic Republic of Pakistan Imran Khan shared his most sincere congratulations to the president of Azerbaijan and the brotherly people of Azerbaijan on the occasion of Independence Day. He expressed his respect for the Armed Forces of Azerbaijan, which protect the territorial integrity of our country. On December 11, Pakistani ambassador to Azerbaijan Bilal Hayee shared his support for Azerbaijan on his Twitter page: “the government and people of Pakistan have always been with Azerbaijan and are ready to provide comprehensive support for the reconstruction of liberated territories and the return of IDPs to their ancestral lands”. The ambassador added that the Government of Pakistan handed over the aid sent by plane to the local authorities for the brotherly people of Azerbaijan. Noting the strong friendship between Pakistan and Azerbaijan, he expressed his pride. On December 30, 2020, the president of Pakistan and First Lady congratulated the government and people of Azerbaijan on the liberation of Azerbaijan’s lands from occupation and victory over aggressive Armenia during the ceremony of presenting wheelchairs for Physically Disabled Persons in Islamabad with the support of the Heydar Aliyev Foundation, and asked the president of Azerbaijan to deliver his The result of our solidarity is that the victory of Azerbaijan was celebrated in Pakistan with the same joy. At any time of the war, the operations of the Armed Forces of Azerbaijan were covered by the main headlines in the Pakistani mass media. The Azerbaijani state and people were very pleased that during and after the war, fraternal Pakistan always stood by Azerbaijan and did not spare any political and moral support. Especially on the day of victory, the people of Azerbaijan demonstrated their feelings about Pakistan. As a symbol of unity and brotherhood, people also waved the flags of Pakistan during the war. President of the Republic of Azerbaijan Ilham Aliyev has received a delegation led by Minister of foreign affairs of the Islamic Republic of Iran Mohammad Javad Zarif. Thus, President Ilham Aliyev thanked the people of Pakistan for their speech at the conference “new look to the South Caucasus: development and cooperation after the conflict” held at ADA University on April 13: “I am grateful to Pakistan. I am grateful to the people of Pakistan for their continued support during the war. Pakistan openly supported Azerbaijan from the first days of the confrontation to the last days.” The president noted that Pakistan is one of the few countries that does not establish diplomatic relations with Armenia for its aggression and occupation policy. This is a true sign of our brotherhood. “You probably know that during the war, many flags of Turkey and Pakistan were hung in our cities. This came from the hearts of people,” the head of our state said. The Azerbaijani state has always lived in peace and tranquility with the neighboring states in accordance with the principles. And today Azerbaijan is developing mutually beneficial relations with its neighbors. Armenia has always tried to destabilize the region. The provocations made by Armenia against Azerbaijan from time to time are a clear proof of this. Armenia’s disregard for peace talks over the years has resulted in a negative end for the occupying country itself. The Azerbaijani army responded to the Armenian provocateurs with an adequate response, freeing our land from occupation and achieving a glorious victory. In the 44-Day War, Azerbaijan further strengthened cooperation with friendly states, which provided political and moral support to it. From this point of view, the relations with Pakistan are given great attention and special importance. The further strengthening of cooperation between the two countries in various areas, including in the field of defense, will contribute to the establishment of peace in the world. Azerbaijani-Pakistani relations are built on a solid foundation. The constantly developing political relations have been upgraded to today’s level of strategic cooperation. The political and moral support provided by Pakitsa to Azerbaijan in the Vatan war also came from this strategic partnership, including friendship based on historical roots.
(-Writer is Chairman of the public union of Journalists ‘ support to Diaspora activities.)
