ISLAMABAD (special crosspondent) – The outgoing Ambassador of the Republic of Azerbaijan, Mr. Khazar Farhadov, paid a formal farewell call on President Asif Ali Zardari at Aiwan-e-Sadr on 7 August 2026. During the meeting, the President formally commended the Ambassador for his instrumental contributions toward strengthening the longstanding, brotherly relations between Pakistan and Azerbaijan.

President Zardari emphasized that Islamabad holds Baku in high regard, viewing Azerbaijan as a trusted strategic partner. He noted that bilateral ties, which are built upon a foundation of mutual trust and steadfast support for core national interests, continue to evolve and deepen. Reflecting on the recent diplomatic milestones, the President lauded the Ambassador’s role in facilitating the historic state visit of President Ilham Aliyev to Pakistan in July 2024, an event that heralded a new chapter in the partnership between the two nations.

Expanding Strategic Cooperation

The President expressed satisfaction regarding the positive trajectory of parliamentary, business, cultural, and people-to-people exchanges. He reiterated a firm commitment to translating the collective vision of both leaderships into tangible outcomes across various sectors, including trade, investment, connectivity, Information Technology, climate, and tourism. Furthermore, the President highlighted the importance of expanding defense and security cooperation, similar to recent efforts seen in the Pakistan, Saudi Arabia and Türkiye sign joint defence pact to strengthen collective security initiatives which have underscored regional stability.

A Lasting Personal Bond

Concluding the meeting, President Zardari congratulated Mr. Farhadov on the successful completion of his tenure in Islamabad and conveyed his warm wishes for the diplomat’s future assignments. The outgoing Ambassador, who is set to assume a new diplomatic posting in Malaysia, reflected emotionally on his time in Pakistan. He noted that Islamabad was his inaugural ambassadorial post and would forever remain his “first love.” He added, “I will represent both Azerbaijan and Pakistan in Malaysia, Mr. President.” The meeting was also attended by Mrs. Tarana Farhadova, who presented President Zardari with a commemorative pictorial book documenting their five-year tenure in the country.