Shehbaz Sharif and Ilham Aliyev on Tuesday held a telephone conversation to discuss ongoing peace efforts related to the Middle East crisis and reaffirm bilateral cooperation between Pakistan and Azerbaijan.
According to a statement issued by the Prime Minister’s Office of Pakistan, the two leaders exchanged greetings and reiterated the strong brotherly ties and longstanding friendship shared by the two countries.
During the conversation, Prime Minister Shehbaz conveyed his best wishes to President Aliyev for the successful hosting of the upcoming World Urban Forum, scheduled to take place in Baku next week.
The prime minister expressed confidence that Azerbaijan’s leadership of the forum would help advance global discussions on urban development and sustainable growth.
He also informed President Aliyev that due to pressing official commitments, he would not be able to personally attend the event, but assured that Pakistan would be represented at an appropriate level.
According to the PMO statement, both leaders expressed satisfaction over the positive direction of bilateral relations and reaffirmed their commitment to expanding cooperation in key sectors, including trade, investment, energy, and people-to-people exchanges.
The discussion also covered regional developments, particularly ongoing diplomatic efforts aimed at maintaining peace and stability in the Middle East.
The statement noted that President Aliyev appreciated Pakistan’s role in facilitating efforts to secure a ceasefire between Iran and the United States, describing Islamabad’s involvement as evidence of international trust in Pakistan’s diplomatic leadership.
The two leaders agreed to remain in close contact and expressed hope for an in-person meeting later this year.
Prime Minister Shehbaz also renewed his invitation to President Aliyev to undertake an official visit to Pakistan at the earliest opportunity.
In a separate message shared on X, the prime minister said he appreciated President Aliyev’s remarks acknowledging Pakistan’s efforts to promote peace, diplomacy, and dialogue in the region.
Pakistan has remained actively engaged in diplomatic mediation between the United States and Iran following the Pakistan-brokered ceasefire reached on April 8, which largely halted hostilities between the two sides.
The first direct round of US-Iran talks took place in Islamabad on April 11 and 12, with Pakistan acting as a mediator. Although the negotiations ended without a formal agreement, both sides continued diplomatic engagement through indirect channels facilitated by Islamabad.
Prime Minister Shehbaz and President Aliyev have maintained regular diplomatic contact in recent years. The Pakistani premier visited Azerbaijan in May 2025 and again later that year for bilateral engagements aimed at strengthening strategic and economic cooperation between the two countries.