Azerbaijani, Pakistan ink military co-op plan
By Sara Rajabova
Azerbaijan and Pakistan defense officials have signed a military cooperation plan for 2014.
Islamabad hosted the fifth meeting of the Azerbaijan-Pakistan Working Group, Azerbaijani Defense Ministry said.
Pakistan's delegation was led by the director general of the Foreign Military Cooperation of the Joint Staff Headquarters, Major General Muhammad Farrukh Rashid and Azerbaijan's delegation was led by the head of Azerbaijani Defense Ministry's International Military Cooperation Department, Major General Ramiz Najafov.
The parties discussed military and military-technical cooperation, as well as, the current state of implementation of decisions and cooperation prospects.
The decisions made at the meeting were included into the cooperation plan.
The military-political situation in the region was also discussed, and it was stressed that the mutual support in issues of fight against threats will continue.
The meeting's protocol and the plan of military cooperation between Azerbaijani Defense Ministry and Pakistani Joint Staff Headquarters in 2014 were approved following the meeting.
The military cooperation is one of the main components of bilateral relations between Azerbaijan and Pakistan. The countries signed a defense agreement in 2013. Later, the naval forces of both countries held consultations on military-technical issues.
Pakistan was among of the first countries that recognized the independence of Azerbaijan on December 12, 1991. The diplomatic relations between the two countries were established on June 9, 1992. The Pakistan Embassy to Azerbaijan was opened on March 12, 1993.
Azerbaijani Embassy to Pakistan was opened on August 24, 1997.
Pakistan and Azerbaijan enjoy good relations in various spheres. Pakistan supported Azerbaijan during and after the Nagorno-Karabakh War and it is the only country that does not recognize Armenia.