The second anniversary of Azerbaijan's Victory Day was solemnly celebrated in Pakistan

The Embassy of the Republic of Azerbaijan in Pakistan organized an official reception in Pakistan on the occasion of the second anniversary of the Victory Day of Azerbaijan.

At the reception that the Defense Minister of Pakistan Khawaja Muhammad attended as a chief guest, Federal Minister for States and Frontier Regions (SAFRON) of Pakistan Muhammad Talha Mahmood, Pakistani Federal Defence Production Minister Muhammad Israr Tarin, Federal Minister for Parliamentary Affairs Murtaza Javed Abbasi, senators, ambassadors of foreign countries in Pakistan, diplomats, representatives of government institutions, public, cultural and business circles of Pakistan, high-ranking officers of the Armed Forces of this country, media representatives, as well as Azerbaijanis living in Pakistan attended the reception.

First, the memory of the martyrs of the Patriotic War was commemorated with a minute of silence.

Ambassador Khazar Farhadov, speaking after the playing of the national anthems of Azerbaijan and Pakistan, said that November 8 is celebrated as Victory Day in our country every year and thanked the guests for celebrating the second anniversary of our historic victory with us at this reception.

Addressing the victory day ceremony in Islamabad, Ambassador of Azerbaijan Khazar Farhadov said November 8 marks victory day in the Republic of Azerbaijan every year.

He said Armenia kept Azerbaijani territories under illegal occupation for almost three decades despite the decisions and resolutions of the leading international institutions. Armenia ignored all these decisions and resolutions and continued to illegally occupy almost 20 percent of our territory, he added.

During the occupation, more than one million Azerbaijanis became refugees and IDPs. “Our people became the subject of ethnic cleansing. The UN Security Council adopted four resolutions demanding the immediate and unconditional withdrawal of Armenian troops from our territories, but these resolutions were never implemented.”

The ambassador further stated that two years ago, in 2020, under the leadership of Supreme Commander-in-Chief of the Azerbaijani Armed Forces President Ilham Aliyev, Azeri army liberated Azerbaijan’s territories from Armenian occupation, and Armenia was forced to sign an act of capitulation, thus acknowledging Azerbaijan’s historic victory.

After the liberation, he said, Azerbaijan started large-scale restoration and reconstruction works in the liberated areas. Azerbaijan also ensured its territorial integrity, and restored the fundamental rights of nearly one million displaced Azerbaijanis, he added.

In 2021 and 2022, the Azerbaijani Government allocated nearly $3 billion to large-scale reconstruction and restoration activities in the liberated lands. “I would like to inform you that two international airports, namely Fuzuli and Zangilan International Airports, were built quickly. We restore our lands”, he added.

The ambassador said, “I must also mention Pakistan’s support. Brotherly Pakistan, from the first day of the former Karabakh conflict, as well as during the Patriotic War in 2020, morally and politically supported the just position of Azerbaijan, and the Government and people of Azerbaijan have highly appreciated it.”

Speaking on occasion, Defense Minister Khawaja Muhammad Asif congratulated the Government and people of Azerbaijan on the occasion of Victory Day and said that the liberation of Azerbaijan's historical territories from Armenian occupation was met with great joy among the people of Pakistan. Noting that Azerbaijan and Pakistan are two brother countries, the minister expressed confidence that the relations between our countries in all fields will continue to develop in a rising line.