PM Shehbaz vows to safeguard Pakistan’s territorial integrity

Baku: Prime Minister Muhammad Shehbaz Sharif says participation of Pakistan and Turkiye in the Victory Day Parade in Azerbaijan is resounding symbol of enduring friendship that has grown stronger over the years.

He was addressing the Victory Day Parade on the occasion of 5th anniversary of Karabakh war in Baku on Saturday.

The Prime Minister said Pakistan, Azerbaijan and Turkiye are three brothers whose hearts beat together.

He said  the three countries stand shoulder to shoulder on this auspicious occasion to witness the proud and scintillating sight of our forces marching together to commemorate the day.

Shehbaz Sharif mentioned the Pakistan's Independence Day on 14th August this year when the contingents of Turkiye and Azerbaijan marched alongside Pakistan’s Armed Forces to commemorate Pakistan's Independence Day and victory in the Marka-e-Haq.

He also recited poetry of Iqbal and paid tribute to Azerbaijani forces in Allama Iqbal's words for their courageous respond to the call of history under the leadership of their President Ilham Aliyev and liberation of Karabakh.

He said Pakistan stood like a rock with its Azerbaijani brothers during this time and we will continue to do so for all times to come.

The Prime Minister said that Azerbaijan's glorious victory in Karabakh is a beacon of hope for all nations fighting against oppression specially the brave and resilient people of Gaza and Indian Illegally Occupied Jammu and Kashmir.

He said this year the entire world witnessed how the great people and resolute leadership of Azerbaijan and Turkiye stood firmly with Pakistan during the four day war with India in May.

The Prime Minister said that under the dynamic and fearless command of Chief of Army Staff, Field Marshal Syed Asim Munir, Pakistan's highly professional armed forces delivered a bloody nose to our enemy with precise and highly effective military punch that stunned the enemy into shock and disbelief.

He said our ever vigilant Air Force hawks, commanded by Air Chief Marshall Zaheer Babar Sidhu, aptly shot down seven highly sophisticated enemy planes with lightning speed in defense of the motherland.

The Prime Minister said Pakistan seeks peace but let there be no doubt that no one can ever be allowed to challenge its sovereignty or undermine territorial integrity.

Commending the strong commitment of President Ilham Aliyev to the welfare and progress of the people of Azerbaijan, Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif mentioned the astounding speed of reconstruction in the liberated territory of Karabakh especially in the city of Shusha which is the jewel of Karabakh.

Shehbaz Sharif also paid tribute to the soldiers of Azerbaijan, who sacrificed their lives for country's freedom and wrote an immortal chapter in the annals of history.

He also lauded the leadership of Ilham Aliyev, who guided Azerbaijan on a difficult journey from achieving a resounding victory in Karabakh to reaching a peace agreement with dignity and mutual respect between Azerbaijan and Armenia.

The Prime Minister specially acknowledged and appreciated the role of US President Donald Trump for his exemplary leadership that culminated in the success of these peace efforts.

He said it was also President Donald Trump's bold and decisive leadership that brought about the ceasefire between Pakistan and India, restoring peace in South Asia.

The Prime Minister said our common resolve of peace has most recently been tested in the case of Afghanistan. He thanked the Turkiye’s President along with Qatar for invaluable contribution in facilitating peace talk between Pakistan and Afghanistan.

He also commended Turkiye’s President Recep Tayyip Erdogan for making his country one of the most successful models of development and a modern progressive strategic and economic world power.

At the start of ceremony, National Anthems of Pakistan, Azerbaijan and Turkiye were played while one-minute silence was also observed for the martyrs of Karabakh war.

The parade also included contingents of Armed Forces from Pakistan and Turkiye who marched alongside Azerbaijani forces. The ceremony also included a splendid flypast of JF-17 Thunder jets.