Azerbaijan has reiterated its support to Pakistan's principled stand on the Kashmir issue just as Pakistan has supported Azerbaijan on the issue of Armenia. These views were expressed by Azerbaijan Parliament Speaker Ogtay Asadov while talking to Pakistan's parliamentary delegation in Baku on Tuesday.
The Pakistani delegation, led by Senator Mushahid Hussain, is currently visiting Azerbaijan on the invitation of Azerbaijan Parliament. On its first day of official engagements, the delegation had a busy programme at Azerbaijan Parliament, meeting four different committees and a call on Azerbaijan Parliament Speaker, according to a press release received from Baku.
Asadov was very appreciative of Pakistan's support to the issue of Nagorno Karabakh, particularly during the passage of the UN General Assembly resolution in March, 2008. Welcoming the Pakistani delegation, he referred to the "strategic partnership" between Pakistan and Azerbaijan, and referred to the Pakistani parliamentarians as "our dear brothers".
He underlined the need for broadening Pakistan-Azerbaijan relations, especially in the field of trade and economy. Mushahid said that Pakistan had a consistent commitment to supporting Azerbaijan because both countries share similarities. These are common cultural heritage, which had been reinforced by mutual support on issues such as Kashmir and Nagorno Karabakh, he added.
He said both countries had been victims of aggression and both had to depend on themselves for their security. And, in both cases, the UN resolutions have not been implemented. He said the Pakistan's delegation was a representative delegation since it included members from five different political parties.
The delegation spent a busy day in the premises of Azerbaijan Parliament where it held four different sessions with Foreign Relations Committee, Defence and Security Committee, Social Affairs Committee and a meeting with Pakistan-Azerbaijan Friendship Group in Azerbaijan Parliament headed by Elder Ibrahimov. During these meetings, Senator Mushahid presented a report of Pakistan's Senate Foreign Relations Committee focusing on 'Pakistan-Azerbaijan Relations'.
The delegation had a productive day since it agreed to strengthen future co-operation. Among decisions taken were to send a team of parliamentary election observers from Pakistan to monitor the Azerbaijan Presidential elections scheduled to be held on October 15, 2008. The five-member delegation will be led by Senator Latif Khan Khosa. A Pakistan-Azerbaijan Friendship Group was also established which would be headed by Senator Talha Mahmood.
Mushahid also extended an invitation to Azerbaijan Speaker to send a delegation to Pakistan on the occasion of the 5th General Assembly of the International Conference of Asian Political Parties (ICAPP) scheduled to be held in Islamabad on October 24-26, 2008. The invitation was accepted and a delegation from Azerbaijan will participate in the conference.
The delegation commenced its programme by offering Fateha at the grave of the late leader of Azerbaijan, Heyder Aliyev, who is father of the current President of Azerbaijan, Ilham Aliyev. The delegation comprises Mushahid Hussain, Wasim Sajjad, Samiul Haq, Talha Mahmood, Latif Khan Khosa, Tahir Hussain Mashhadi, Naeem Hussain Chattha and Iftikharullah Babar, and Additional Secretary, Senate, as Secretary of the delegation.