Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif has said that Azerbaijan, Türkiye, and Pakistan are three brotherly nations united as "three hearts, one soul." He expressed that the support of friendly countries like Türkiye and Azerbaijan during difficult times is a valuable asset for Pakistan.
Addressing the Independence Day ceremony of Azerbaijan, Prime Minister Shehbaz extended heartfelt congratulations to the government and people of Azerbaijan. He said that the hearts of the Pakistani people beat with those of the Azerbaijani and Turkish people, reaffirming the strong bond between the three nations.
He also highlighted that Pakistan gave a strong and effective response to Indian aggression by downing six of its aircraft, including four Rafale jets. He criticized India for blaming Pakistan without evidence for the Pulwama incident, accusing it of using the incident as a pretext for aggression. He said that India carried out a cowardly attack on Pakistan, resulting in the martyrdom of 33 civilians, including women, children, and the elderly.
Prime Minister Shehbaz noted the significance of May 28, stating that while it is Azerbaijan’s Independence Day, it also holds great importance for Pakistan as the day it became a nuclear power. He expressed solidarity with the oppressed people of Kashmir and also highlighted the plight of Palestinians during his speech.
He praised Field Marshal Syed Asim Munir for his role in defending the nation and credited him with the success of Pakistan’s response to aggression. The audience at the ceremony also paid tribute to Field Marshal Asim Munir with loud applause.
Meanwhile, Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan, addressing the ceremony, also described the three nations as brotherly countries and congratulated the people of Azerbaijan on their Independence Day. He reaffirmed that Türkiye, Pakistan, and Azerbaijan will continue to stand united in difficult times.
Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev welcomed the guests and thanked both President Erdoğan and Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif for attending the event. He acknowledged the consistent support from Pakistan and Türkiye for Azerbaijan’s principled stance and assured that Azerbaijan will always stand with them.
It is worth noting that Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif is currently on a visit to Azerbaijan, accompanied by Field Marshal Syed Asim Munir. During the ceremony, national anthems of Türkiye and Pakistan were also played.
