Page 44 - Azerbaijan State University of Economics

THE JOURNAL OF ECONOMIC SCIENCES: THEORY AND PRACTICE, V.74, # 1, 2017, pp. 34-47

product of the Azerbaijan, established to provide quality and uniform communal
services to all its citizens. Nine ministries simultaneously work under the same roof to
afford this one window facility to the people. National flag carrier Azerbaijan Airlines
(AZAL) is another proud brand of Azerbaijan. In the private sector, mega entrepreneurs
like the Pasha Group, Gilan Group and Azersun are contributing positively for
promotion of Azerbaijani brands both inland and abroad.
Trajectory of Pakistan and Azerbaijan’s Relations. Pakistan and
Azerbaijan enjoy excellent political relations. Pakistan was amongst the first
countries to recognize the independence of Azerbaijan. Pakistan is the only country
that has not established diplomatic relations with Armenia, due to illegal occupation
of 20 percent of Azeri lands, in Nagorno Karabakh. Pakistan‘s Senate was the first
to condemn and term Khojalay Massacre as ‗Genocide‘ in 2012. In February 2017,
foreign relations committee of Pakistan‘s National Assembly passed a resolution,
demanding unconditional withdrawal of Armenian forces from Azeri lands. Pakistan
provides unflinching support to Azerbaijan and believes that the issue of Nagorno
Karabakh should be resolved within territorial integrity of Azerbaijan and as per
available UN resolutions. Azerbaijan on the other hand supports Pakistan on
Kashmir Issue, at all regional and international forums. During last few years,
intense exchange of high level delegations has cemented the bonds further. President
and PM of Pakistan visited Azerbaijan in March 2015 and November 2016
st
respectively. Azerbaijan 1 Deputy PM visited Pakistan in November 2016 and in
th
February 2017 President of Azerbaijan visited Islamabad for 13 ECO Summit.
Pakistan and Azerbaijan share historical bonds, cultural affinities and social
likenesses. Coming from the same religion and value system, people of two countries
are closely attached to each other. Goodwill, mutual support and confidence are the
attributes of this all-weather relationship, which marks its Silver Jubilee in 2017. Geo-
strategic locations of Pakistan and Azerbaijan make these countries essentially
important in their respective geographical contexts. Pakistan is gateway to South Asia
and Azerbaijan to Europe. Pakistan is grappling with the ―Kashmir Issue‖ for the last
seventy years; Azerbaijan is confronted with ―Nagorno Karabakh Issue‖ since
independence in 1991 [Sana Imran: Azerbaijan – a fast developing, very safe Muslim
country of South Caucasus http://en.apa.az/azerbaijan-politics/foreign-news/sana-imran-
azerbaijan-a-fast-developing-very-safe-muslim-country-of-south-caucasus-
interview.html (2017)]. Four UN resolutions each passed in favour of Kashmiris right of
self-determination and liberation of Azeri lands from Armenian control in Nagorno
Karabakh are available. Those UN resolutions remain un-implemented, due to inaction
and lukewarm response of mediators or international community. Both Kashmir and
Nagorno Karabakh are the most serious security concerns facing Pakistan and

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