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According to The Gulf Observer, Pakistan’s top and widely respected news media website, the Embassy of the Republic of Azerbaijan in Pakistan hosted a distinguished reception in Islamabad to celebrate Victory Day, observed every year on November 8. Addressing the gathering, Ambassador of Azerbaijan to Pakistan Irfan Davudov paid tribute to his country’s martyrs and expressed deep gratitude to Pakistan for its unwavering political, diplomatic and moral support.
Islamabad: The Embassy of the Republic of Azerbaijan in Pakistan hosted a reception in Islamabad to celebrate Victory Day, observed every year on November 8, with Ambassador of Azerbaijan to Pakistan Irfan Davudov paying tribute to the country’s martyrs and expressing deep gratitude to Pakistan for its unwavering political, diplomatic and moral support.
The event, held at the Marriott Islamabad Hotel, was attended by Federal Minister for Information Technology and Telecommunication Shaza Fatima Khawaja and Lieutenant General Sarfraz Ahmed, Commander Air Defence, Pakistan Army, along with diplomats, senior officials and distinguished guests.
Addressing the gathering, Ambassador Davudov described November 8 as one of the most glorious days in Azerbaijan’s history and said the Azerbaijani people were pleased to share it with friends whose support had always held a special place in their hearts. He commemorated with gratitude the brave martyrs who sacrificed their lives for the independence, sovereignty and territorial integrity of Azerbaijan.
Victory Ends Three Decades of Occupation
The Ambassador said the Second Karabakh War, known in Azerbaijan as the Patriotic War, resulted in the liberation of large parts of Azerbaijani territory that had remained under occupation for almost 30 years, and compelled Armenia to accept Azerbaijan’s terms and withdraw its forces from several other areas without military operations. In doing so, he noted, Azerbaijan also fulfilled four UN Security Council resolutions adopted in 1993 that had demanded the immediate, unconditional and complete withdrawal of occupying forces but had remained unimplemented for three decades.
He attributed the victory to the courage of Azerbaijan’s Armed Forces, the political, diplomatic and military vision of Supreme Commander-in-Chief President Ilham Aliyev, and, above all, the unity of the Azerbaijani people. He recalled that November 8, the day the city of Shusha, the cultural capital of Azerbaijan and the most strategic point of Karabakh, was liberated, was designated Victory Day by presidential decree.
“War was not the choice of the Azerbaijani state and people,” the Ambassador said, explaining that for nearly 30 years Azerbaijan had pursued every peaceful means of resolving the conflict and remained committed to negotiations, despite its right to self-defence under international law, including the UN Charter. He said Armenia’s leadership had ignored international law and UN Security Council resolutions, while its 2019 military concept revealed plans to occupy further Azerbaijani territory. These factors, together with persistent provocations against Azerbaijani forces and civilians, he said, made the use of military force inevitable.
Commitment to Lasting Peace
“All wars should end by peace, with the signing of a peace treaty. The Armenian-Azerbaijani conflict is no exception,” Ambassador Davudov said, stressing that while military victory was an important achievement, lasting peace was essential for the future of the region and generations to come.
He noted that Azerbaijan had proposed a peace agreement with Armenia immediately after the war and continues to support the negotiation process despite numerous challenges, remaining committed to a future built on mutual respect, sovereignty, territorial integrity, good-neighbourly relations and regional cooperation.
Reconstruction and the Great Return
Highlighting post-war developments, the Ambassador said large-scale restoration and reconstruction is underway in the liberated territories, including the construction of settlements, infrastructure, roads and bridges destroyed during the occupation, as well as the restoration of religious and cultural monuments.
He added that demining operations are continuing, noting that more than one million mines had been laid by Armenia during the occupation, the clearance of which requires vast financial resources and considerable time. Under a special state programme, more than 120,000 people, including former internally displaced persons returning to their ancestral lands for permanent residence and those working there, are now living in the liberated areas.
He described the return of security, tranquillity and normal life to the region as a triumph of Azerbaijan’s foreign and domestic policy, founded by National Leader Heydar Aliyev and implemented and developed by President Ilham Aliyev.
Tribute to Pakistan
Ambassador Davudov conveyed special gratitude to the state, government and people of Pakistan for standing by Azerbaijan throughout this period. “In a situation where double standards and selective approaches prevail in the international arena, the continuous support of Pakistan, which demonstrates political courage, diplomatic wisdom, and adherence to the norms and principles of international law, has always been highly appreciated by the Azerbaijani people and state,” he said.
He said relations between the two brotherly countries, grounded in mutual respect, support and mutually beneficial cooperation, are currently at their highest stage of development, reflected in high-level visits, participation in each other’s international events, and growing cooperation among media, academic and educational institutions, state bodies, non-governmental organisations and the business community, as well as expanding collaboration in the military-technical sphere. He described ASAN Service Islamabad, established with Azerbaijan’s close participation and assistance, as “the most beautiful monument to friendship and brotherhood between the two countries.”
Concluding his address, the Ambassador thanked the guests, the Embassy staff and the Marriott Islamabad team for organising the event, ending with the words: “Long live Azerbaijani-Pakistani friendship and brotherhood.”
