Pakistan

Pakistan, Azerbaijan pledge to strengthen defence ties

  • Both naval chiefs discuss matters of mutual interest, regional maritime security situation
Published February 3, 2026 Updated February 3, 2026 12:07pm

Pakistan and Azerbaijan have pledged to further strengthen and diversify the scope of existing bilateral defence relationship.

The understanding to this effect was reached during a meeting between Chief of the Naval Staff Admiral Naveed Ashraf and Commander Azerbaijan Naval Forces Rear Admiral Shahin Mammadov at Naval Headquarters in Islamabad.

During the meeting, both the leaders discussed matters of mutual interest, regional maritime security situation, and avenues for enhanced cooperation in training and defence.

A briefing was also given to the visiting dignitary on Pakistan Navy’s ongoing projects. Pakistan and Azerbaijan share longstanding brotherly relations marked by close naval cooperation.

According to the Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR), the visit of Commander Azerbaijan Naval Forces will further enhance bilateral collaboration between the two countries in general and navies in particular.

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Earlier, upon arrival at the Naval Headquarters, the Commander Azerbaijan Naval Forces was received by the Chief of the Naval Staff. A smartly turned out contingent of Pakistan Navy presented him the Guard of Honour.

The Commander Azerbaijan Naval Forces also laid floral wreath at the Shuhada’s Monument.

The development comes months after Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif met with President of Azerbaijan Ilham Aliyev at the Presidential Palace in Baku to discuss ways to further deepen bilateral cooperation across multiple sectors.

Chief of the Army Staff Field Marshal Syed Asim Munir was also present at this meeting on November 7, 2025.

According to the Prime Minister’s Office, the two leaders had reviewed the entire spectrum of Pakistan-Azerbaijan relations and agreed to expand collaboration in political, trade and investment, energy, connectivity and defence sectors.

The prime minister had thanked President Aliyev for inviting him to attend Azerbaijan’s Victory Day celebrations, commemorating the country’s historic triumph in the 44-day Karabakh Liberation War against Armenia.