Azerbaijan, Baku, May 19 / Trend S. Agayeva /
Azerbaijan intends to raise the economic relations with Pakistan to the political level.
Azerbaijan intends to make every effort for political, economic, military-technical and cultural relations with Pakistan to develop and strengthen with each passing year, Azerbaijani ambassador to Pakistan Dashgin Shikarov told Trend.
"Today, Pakistan faces many challenges, especially in the economic sphere," he said. "Last year's floods, which damaged big electric power stations in the country, led to a great lack of energy. It caused tremendous damage. Taking all this into account, it is necessary to pay attention to the expansion of economic relations between countries."
Political relations between the countries are at a very high level. The parties intend to continue developing these relations, the diplomat said.
The mutual visits of the presidents played the important role.
"Pakistani President Asif Ali Zardari plans to visit Azerbaijan this year to promote and maintain the relations at a high-level," he said. "We believe that this visit will be the impetus to expand the economic relations in accordance with the political ones."
A business forum is also planned to be held with participation of businessmen of both countries.
Pakistan one of the first countries recognized Azerbaijan's independence in 1991. The diplomatic relations between the countries were established in 1992 year.
The two countries support each other on the Kashmir and Nagorno-Karabakh conflicts.
"The Islamic Republic of Pakistan has always supported Azerbaijan in the Armenian-Azerbaijani Nagorno-Karabakh conflict," he said. "It is important to stress that Pakistan does not recognize Armenia as a state and does not establish diplomatic relations with it in connection with the occupation of Azerbaijani lands."
Azerbaijan has always supported Pakistan in the Kashmir issue on the international arena. It hopes that the problem will be solved within the international norms and principles
The conflict between the two South Caucasus countries began in 1988 when Armenia made territorial claims against Azerbaijan. Armenian armed forces have occupied 20 percent of Azerbaijan since 1992, including the Nagorno-Karabakh region and 7 surrounding districts.
Azerbaijan and Armenia signed a ceasefire agreement in 1994. The co-chairs of the OSCE Minsk Group - Russia, France, and the U.S. - are currently holding the peace negotiations.
Armenia has not yet implemented the U.N. Security Council's four resolutions on the liberation of the Nagorno-Karabakh and the surrounding regions.
Kashmir's belonging in India-Pakistan relations has remained the most acute, conflict and stubborn issue for the last 60 years. The tense situation continues up to now. The attacks occur regularly in Jammu and Kashmir. Hostages are taken and killed. The armed conflicts occur throughout the Indo-Pakistan border.