ISLAMABAD: In a notable diplomatic development, Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar revealed on Friday that Pakistan and Armenia are considering establishing formal diplomatic relations, This announcement followed a telephonic discussion with Armenia’s Foreign Minister, Ararat Mirzoyan.
Taking to X (formerly Twitter), Dar shared, “Today, I had a warm and constructive conversation with Armenian Foreign Minister Ararat Mirzoyan, during which we agreed to explore the possibility of establishing diplomatic ties between Pakistan and Armenia.”
Currently, Pakistan and Armenia do not have official diplomatic relations. Their interactions have largely been influenced by regional geopolitical tensions, with Islamabad traditionally supporting Azerbaijan in the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict.This development comes a few weeks after Azerbaijan and Armenia signed a US-mediated peace agreement during a meeting attended by former US President Donald Trump. Experts believe this peace deal could pave the way for improved bilateral economic cooperation after many years of conflict.
The longstanding dispute between Armenia and Azerbaijan dates back to the late 1980s, when Nagorno-Karabakh, a predominantly ethnic Armenian region within Azerbaijan, sought independence with Armenian backing. Azerbaijan regained full control of the area in 2023, causing nearly all of its 100,000 ethnic Armenian residents to flee to Armenia.
Reacting to the news, Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif lauded the “historic peace agreement,” calling it the beginning of a new chapter of peace, stability, and collaboration in the South Caucasus a region marred by decades of conflict and suffering.He extended congratulations to Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev and the Azerbaijani people, praising the agreement as a reflection of wisdom and farsightedness in fostering regional peace.
The Prime Minister also acknowledged the US role, especially under President Trump, in facilitating the peace process, which opens new opportunities for trade, regional connectivity, and cooperation.
