Dr. Carsten Sander Christensen political reporter for “Azerbaijan Today” magazine, had an interview with Ambassador of the Islamic Republic of Pakistan to Azerbaijan Mr. Qasim Mohiuddin.
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A.T.: Mr. Ambassador, an increase in military relations between Pakistan and our common ally, Türkiye, has been observed. Pakistani Air Force are training Turkish pilots. How do you see a future close trilateral military alliance forming between Pakistan, Türkiye and Azerbaijan?
Q. M.: Pakistan deeply values its fraternal ties with Azerbaijan and Türkiye. Our relations are grounded in deep-rooted cultural, historical, and religious bonds, as well as mutual respect and support for each other on core issues.
The inaugural session of the Pakistan-Türkiye-Azerbaijan Trilateral Summit was held on the sidelines of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) Summit in Astana, Kazakhstan, in July 2024. The Summit was attended by the Prime Minister of Pakistan, Muhammad Shehbaz Sharif, the President of the Republic of Azerbaijan, H.E. Ilham Aliyev and the President of Türkiye, H.E. Recep Tayyip Erdoğan.
The Summit reiterated that our three brotherly countries share a similar outlook on various issues of mutual interest and common concern. It was agreed that strengthening trilateral cooperation among Pakistan, Azerbaijan and Türkiye would contribute to the prosperity of the peoples of the three countries and promote regional and global peace and stability.
The inter-connected historical, cultural, and political ties among Pakistan, Azerbaijan and Türkiye provide a strong foundation for cooperation in all fields, including defence.
A.T.: Mr. Ambassador, do you think it is possible to create a High-Level Strategic Cooperation Council, co-chaired by Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif and President Ilham Aliyev, targeting to elevate the bilateral trade to more than $40 million by 2025?
Q. M.: It is an interesting idea. The leadership of both countries meet regularly. The Prime Minister of Pakistan visited Azerbaijan in June 2023 and for COP29 in November 2024. The President of Azerbaijan paid a historic visit to Pakistan in July 2024. Several highest-level engagements are also planned for 2025.
Pakistan and Azerbaijan share mutual interests in key sectors, including energy, infrastructure development, IT, and agriculture, which create a robust foundation for collaborative endeavours. There is a genuine desire to promote bilateral and regional trade and connectivity, and discussions are taking place to formalise collaboration in several important areas.
In December 2024, our two countries operationalised the Preferential Trade Agreement (PTA) and Transit Trade Agreement (TTA). This is a landmark achievement. Over eighty thousand tourists from Pakistan visited Azerbaijan in 2024. I will also take this opportunity to invite tourists from Azerbaijan to visit Pakistan, and enjoy our traditional hospitality and witness firsthand the love and respect the people of Pakistan have for the brotherly Azerbaijan and its people.
I am confident that the regular exchange of visits at the leadership level and people-to-people contacts would catalyse bilateral trade between Pakistan and Azerbaijan. I am hopeful that positive outcomes and improvement in bilateral trade will be seen this year and beyond.
A.T.: Mr. Ambassador, are you aware of Pakistani companies that have a comprehensive plan involving several joint groups working to improve ties in trade, banking, finance or other sectors in Azerbaijan?
Q. M.: It is heartening to note that the landscape of bilateral relations between Pakistan and Azerbaijan, particularly in trade, banking, and finance, is gaining strength from strength. Several Pakistani companies are proactively engaging in comprehensive strategies to enhance economic ties with their Azerbaijani counterparts.
Yes, several Pakistani companies are actively working to increase their economic footprint in Azerbaijan across various sectors. In September 2024, a successful meeting of the Azerbaijan-Pakistan Business Forum was held in Baku. During the visit of the President of Azerbaijan to Pakistan in July 2024, a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) between KOBIA and Pakistan’s Small and Medium Enterprises Development Authority (SMEDA) was also signed.
These efforts are part of a broader strategy to enhance cooperation in all areas. It also underscores Pakistan’s commitment to strengthen economic relations with Azerbaijan further.
A.T.: Since 2017, the IRP has been negotiating with Azerbaijan, noting the importance of the North-South transport corridor for the future. Taking into account that this corridor in future can become a link in the railway transport of Azerbaijan, Iran and Russia, would it possible that Pakistan involve more in the project?
Q. M.: The International North-South Transport Corridor (INSTC) is strategically significant for regional connectivity.
Pakistan’s strategic location can be crucial in this project, providing an additional link between South Asia and the broader Eurasian region. This would significantly enhance regional connectivity and trade.
Pakistan is a natural and essential component in completing the chain for regional connectivity under INSTC. Recently, Pakistan and Russia announced plans to launch a freight train service via the INSTC, scheduled for a trial run in March 2025.
A.T.: Mr. Ambassador, do you think, that an economic framework, to enhance bilateral economic cooperation with particular focus on trade and investment between our countries on a strategic economic framework could be a possibility?
Q. M.: Creating a strategic economic framework to enhance bilateral cooperation between Pakistan and Azerbaijan, focusing mainly on trade and investment, is certainly possible. Given the strong historical, cultural, and political ties between the two nations, formalising such a framework could help streamline and elevate economic interactions to new heights.
Our two countries have an existing mechanism of the Inter-Governmental Commission (IGC). The IGC provides a holistic overview of bilateral relations at the Ministerial level in all spheres. Its eighth session is scheduled to be held in Islamabad on 23-24 January 2025.
A.T.: Azerbaijan’s export to Pakistan includes raw cotton, chemicals, fats and non-ferrous metals whereas Pakistan export rice, vegetables, fruits and fruit pulp, medical and pharmaceutical products to Azerbaijan, do you think Mr. Ambassador, that an eventual new bilateral trade agreement will give a significant boost to the trade between the two countries?
Q. M.: Pakistan and Azerbaijan have taken several measures in the last couple of years to streamline further and improve bilateral trade ties. The efforts have paved the way for the operationalisation of the Preferential Trade Agreement (PTA) and the Transit Trade Agreement (TTA). These would help to foster a more favourable environment for bilateral and regional trade and investment, leading to increased trade volumes and stronger economic ties between Pakistan and the brotherly Azerbaijan and other Central Asian countries.
The PTA will help reduce tariffs on various goods, making Pakistani and Azerbaijani products more competitive in each other’s markets. This would encourage businesses to explore new trade opportunities. It would also provide better market access to the business communities of both countries. The TTA will streamline the movement of goods between the two countries, reducing transportation costs and time.
These agreements and other sector-specific agreements and MoUs would contribute to further trade diversification by facilitating trade and investment. They would lead to economic growth in both countries, creating jobs and fostering economic development.
A.T.: Mr. Ambassador, according to the bilateral agreement between energy ministries of both Pakistan and Azerbaijan, Azerbaijan will export the number of oil and gas products including petrol and diesel to your country, do you think a further cooperation in the field of green energy is possible in near future?
Q. M.: Absolutely. The cooperation between Azerbaijan and Pakistan in the traditional energy sector is already well-established. However, given the global shift towards sustainable energy, our two sides are already exploring the potential for cooperation in green energy.
Pakistan is one of the most climate-vulnerable countries in the world while being one of the lowest emitters of GHGs. Therefore, we understand the importance of developing and incorporating a robust renewable energy mix into Pakistan’s overall energy mix. Pakistan and Azerbaijan both are truly blessed in terms of benefitting from solar and wind energy. By leveraging this potential and collaborating, both countries can make substantial progress towards achieving their green energy goals. I am confident that our bilateral collaboration in this important area will increase.
A.T.: Pakistan and Azerbaijan share strong historic, cultural and religious affinities, do you think it is possible that the Heydar Aliyev Foundation on the basis of humanitarian cooperation aided to several local Pakistani social welfare institutions and support for Pakistani students can become a starting point for specific exchange programs for university students?
Q. M.: Absolutely! The Heydar Aliyev Foundation has made significant contributions to Pakistan’s humanitarian and social welfare projects. Building on this foundation of goodwill, establishing specific exchange programs for University students would be a natural and impactful next step. Over eleven hundred students are enrolled in various higher educational institutes in Azerbaijan.
With its internationally recognised excellent colleges and universities, especially in medicine, engineering, IT, applied sciences, business, and agriculture, Pakistan also provides immense opportunities for Azerbaijani students.
A.T.: In the beginning of the 1920s, Azerbaijani philanthropist Haji Zeynalabdin Tagiyev sent more than 300 ampoules of plague inoculation to Pakistan, a main reason to the Pakistani victory over the plague, do you think that common health programs between our countries during for instance epidemics is a possibility in near future?
Q. M.: Thank you for adding to my knowledge by sharing the information about the generous act of Haji Zeynalabdin Tagiyev.
The Covid pandemic has highlighted the need for countries to cooperate and respond quickly. Disease isolation through ignoring or not collaborating just does not work.
Pakistan would welcome the establishment of common health programs between Azerbaijan and Pakistan. Such collaboration would lead to better sharing of best practices and help the healthcare systems be better prepared to deal with epidemics.
A.T.: Mr. Ambassador, do you think that plans between Türkiye and your country to facilitate dual nationality for citizens of both countries have been highlighted could take place between Azerbaijan and Pakistan in near future, too?
Q. M.: The idea of facilitating dual nationality between Azerbaijan and Pakistan is interesting. Azerbaijan does not generally recognise dual citizenship. However, given the strong bilateral relations between our brotherly countries, Pakistan would welcome discussions on this topic.
AT: Thank you for the interview, Mr.Ambassador.
