Azerbaijan President Ilham Aliyev hails Pakistan's support over conflict with Armenia

(Karachi) President of Azerbaijan Ilham Aliyev hailed Pakistan and Turkey's continued support for Azerbaijan over recent conflict with Armenia. He added, "We have seen who our real brothers are. These are the people of Turkey and Pakistan."

On Tuesday, the newly appointed Pakistani Ambassador Bilal Hayee conveyed greetings of President Arif Alvi and Prime Minister Imran Khan to the Azerbaijan president.

Hayee said that Pakistan supports the people of Azerbaijan on Nagorno-Karabakh conflict and it wants to deepen economic cooperation, strengthen defense relations and bring the peoples of the two countries closer together.

Pakistan's support true demonstration of brotherhood

Aliyev said that he held several meetings with PM Imran Khan and reaffirmed the strategic and fraternal relations between the two countries.

He stated that Azerbaijan has always supported Pakistan in all matters, including the Kashmir issue. "This mutual support reflects the fraternal nature of our cooperation. I hope the relations between our countries will be strengthened further," he maintained.

Ilham Aliyev said there is great potential for both countries for stimulating mutual trade and build more active investment relations. "We are grateful to Pakistan for its resolute position on the issues of Azerbaijan's territorial integrity."

"Pakistan does not recognize Armenia due to Armenia's occupation of Azerbaijani lands. This is a true demonstration of brotherhood," the Azerbaijan president said.

Aliyev said that Armenia's long-term aggression and occupation has led to the destruction of their infrastructure and cultural. "They have destroyed our historical monuments, our mosques. The mosques that have not yet been destroyed are used to keep animals. They are insulting the whole Muslim world," he remarked.

"We see that those who are with us today are the countries that have openly expressed their positions - brotherly Turkey and brotherly Pakistan," Ilham Aliyev said.

FO statement

A statement issued by Foreign Office said Pakistan is deeply concerned about the deteriorating security situation in Nagorno-Karabakh region after Armenian forces' fired shells on Azerbaijan's civilian populations.

The Armenian forces have attacked the villages of Terter, Aghdam, Fizuli and Jabrayil region and Pakistan considers it reprehensible and most unfortunate, it stated. "This could compromise peace and security of the entire region. Armenia must stop its military action to avoid further escalation," read the statement.

"Pakistan stands with the brotherly nation of Azerbaijan and supports its right of self-defence," the FO statement said.

We support Azerbaijan’s position on Nagorno-Karabakh, which is in line with the several unanimously adopted UN Security Council resolutions, it added.

The conflict

Border clashes broke out after Armenian forces ”allegedly targeted Azerbaijani civilian settlements and military positions in Upper Karabakh region.

Both sides accused each other of initiating deadly clashes that claimed at least 23 lives over a decades-long territorial dispute and threatened to draw in regional powers, Russia and Turkey.

Recent clashes could initiate a fresh war between long-standing rivals Azerbaijan and Armenia which have been locked in a territorial dispute over the Armenia-backed breakaway region of Nagorny Karabakh.