Azerbaijan closely cooperates with many countries of the world in a number of fields, as well as in both political and economic issues. Pakistan is one of the leading countries among these countries. Today EDnews will talk about relations between Azerbaijan and Pakistan and ways of development. EDnews's interviewer is Dr. Mehmood Ul Hassan Khan, Executive Director of the Center for South Asia & International Studies (CSAIS) Islamabad, a regional expert on Azerbaijan & South Caucasus.
EDnews presents the interviews:
- Dr. Mehmood Ul Hassan Khan, how can the partnership between Azerbaijan and Pakistan contribute to regional stability and development?
- Sustainable partnership between Azerbaijan and Pakistan would be game changer and balancing act in greater Eurasian region geopolitics. The maturity and sustainability of bilateral relations between two brotherly countries would effectively deter ill designs of Armenia and India increasing military ties in South Caucasus. Both countries are essential to bring desired goals of regional peace, stability and harmony.
In this regard, the extended cooperation in SCO, BRI, NAM, OIC, and of course CPEC would be right step in right direction converging dreams of greater regional connectivity, easy and smooth supply chains of food & energy, military cooperation and last but not least human capital development would be win-win propositions for both the countries in the future.
- What are some ongoing projects or initiatives that reflect the partnership between Azerbaijan and Pakistan?
Many meaningful projects are being carried out in oil & gas, infrastructure development, IT, ICT, government’s utilities, agriculture development, tourism, housing, resettlement activities, education, civil aviation, joint production of military products, training, joint and trilateral military drills, building of reciprocal Trade Houses, swapping of national currencies, financial integration and last but not least media cooperation between two countries which would definitely bring fruitful and profitable dividends in the days to come.
- Did the conflict in Karabakh impacted on the Pakistani diaspora in Azerbaijan or Azerbaijani diaspora in Pakistan?
- There was no socio-economic, human or psychological impediment on Pakistani diaspora living in Azerbaijan. Rather it further strengthened spirits of brotherhood, caring &sharing, multiculturalism, ethnic diversity and political awareness and social bonding between Pakistani diaspora and native of land of fire.
The same human spirits and values of humanity and harmony were flying high among the Azerbaijani diaspora living in Pakistan. There was strong feeling of shelter, social harmony, personal protection, people true love, and above all sacrifice, services and submission for achieving the good cause of liberating illegally occupied areas of Karabak by Armenia.
- What steps are being taken to further strengthen the relationship between Azerbaijan and Pakistan in the future?
- Both countries have already initiated numerous integrated, coordinated and interactive policies, plans and projects for the further strengthening of bilateral relations.
In this regard, Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif personally met with Azerbaijan President H.E. Ilham Aliyev and agreed on to hold fast-track discussions on bilateral energy collaboration through robust engagement and leadership-level consultations to advance regional connectivity.
During the meeting both sides renewed their commitment to intensify and deepen bilateral engagement in diverse areas. The two leaders reviewed the progress of various ongoing initiatives for promoting connectivity, trade and investment.
Both leaders emphasized fostering close bilateral cooperation in energy sector. Shehbaz proposed leadership-level consultations in Islamabad aimed at advancing regional connectivity, which was received positively.
- What steps are being taken to further strengthen the relationship between Azerbaijan and Pakistan in the future?
It is suggested that serious and sincere efforts should be initiated to form an “Infrastructural Development Bank” by polling financial resources between the two states. A “Joint Construction Company” may be a right step in right direction in which FWO and Turkish private companies may also jointly cooperate. A Joint Hot-Line” to be shared with housing ministries and private companies is the need of the hour. A Joint Working Group of Re-construction” may be a functional idea to proceed further.
Both countries and respective business communities should jointly work for the further strengthening of strategic partnership in terms of diverse sectors of economy, business, trade, joint venture, food & energy cooperation, greater regional connectivity through CPEC and BRI, integration of socio-economic spheres of modern human civilization and last but not least, people-to-people contacts.
Formation of Corridor of Knowledge between two countries is the need of hour in which genuine scholars, experts and loyal journalists should be included instead of chasing the pseudo intellectuals and the Western puppetry media persons. In this regard, the Center for South Asia & International Studies (CSAIS) Islamabad would create a bridge of trust, holistic spirits, meaningful and interactive economic diplomacy, dissemination of true national narrative through international zoom meetings, seminars and conferences between different stakeholders of both the countries. Moreover, the CSAIS would also be useful for the further strengthening of bilateral military cooperation between two states and private enterprises in the days to come.
Ulviyya Shahin
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