BAKU, Monday, July 7, 2025 (WNP): Speaker of Pakistan’s National Assembly, Sardar Ayaz Sadiq, on Monday led a parliamentary delegation to the Milli Majlis of Azerbaijan, where he held wide-ranging talks with his Azerbaijani counterpart, Speaker Sahiba Gafarova, aimed at strengthening inter-parliamentary relations and enhancing bilateral cooperation.
The meeting, held at the Azerbaijani Parliament in Baku, reflected the deep-rooted brotherhood and growing strategic partnership between Pakistan and Azerbaijan. Ayaz Sadiq expressed his gratitude for the warm hospitality extended by Speaker Gafarova and commended Azerbaijan’s principled positions on key regional and international issues.
He particularly acknowledged Azerbaijan’s consistent support for Pakistan’s stance on the Jammu and Kashmir dispute, its clear condemnation of India’s aggressive posture, and its solidarity on broader global issues including the Gaza crisis and the Iran-Israel conflict.
Highlighting symbolic developments in bilateral ties, Sadiq referred to Prime Minister Muhammad Shehbaz Sharif’s recent visit to Azerbaijan’s liberated territories—an event attended by multiple heads of state—which he termed a strong message of international support for Azerbaijan’s territorial integrity.
Recalling two historic resolutions passed under his leadership in Pakistan’s National Assembly—one condemning Armenian aggression in Nagorno-Karabakh, and the other celebrating Azerbaijan’s victory—Ayaz Sadiq reiterated Pakistan’s unwavering solidarity with the Azerbaijani people.
Raising regional concerns, Sadiq strongly criticized India’s unilateral suspension of the Indus Waters Treaty, urging Azerbaijan to join Pakistan in calling for international condemnation of the move.
He also emphasized the importance of connectivity and regional integration, proposing enhanced collaboration through Gwadar Port, which he described as a gateway for trade and development in the region.
In a bid to deepen trilateral cooperation, the Speaker proposed convening the next meeting between the Speakers of the Parliaments of Azerbaijan, Pakistan, and Türkiye at the earliest opportunity.
To further strengthen institutional ties, he recommended initiating staff-level exchange and training programs, allowing parliamentary personnel to better understand each other’s legislative frameworks and procedures. He also highlighted the importance of people-to-people contact, cultural exchanges, and parliamentary diplomacy in fostering mutual understanding.
Sadiq briefed his host on major parliamentary initiatives in Pakistan, including the establishment of the SDGs Secretariat, the Women’s Parliamentary Caucus, the Young Parliamentarians Forum, and the Parliamentary Caucus on Child Rights (PCCR).
Speaker Sahiba Gafarova, in response, appreciated Pakistan’s steadfast support on issues vital to Azerbaijan. She reaffirmed Azerbaijan’s commitment to deepening ties with Pakistan, describing the relationship as one of enduring friendship and strategic alignment.
She recalled the successful 2024 visit of the President of Azerbaijan to Pakistan and the trilateral parliamentary meeting hosted in Azerbaijan, which she said further reinforced collaboration among the three brotherly nations. Gafarova also fondly remembered her 2021 visit to Pakistan.
Gafarova proposed organizing a visit by the Pakistan-Azerbaijan Parliamentary Friendship Group during the upcoming autumn session of the Milli Majlis. She also called for increasing the number of direct flights between the two countries to facilitate greater connectivity and interaction.
The Pakistani delegation included parliamentarians Dr. Mahesh Kumar Malani, Chaudhary Iftikhar Nazir, Sadiq Iftikhar, Umair Khan Niazi, Muhammad Afzal Khokhar, Muhammad Moin Aamer Pirzada, and Nazir Ahmed Bhugio.
At the conclusion of the meeting, Ayaz Sadiq penned his remarks in the official guest book of the Milli Majlis. Both sides reaffirmed their shared commitment to deepening parliamentary cooperation and building on the brotherly relationship between Pakistan and Azerbaijan.
