Azerbaijani military leader awards prestigious war medal to Field Marshal
In a recent meeting at the General Headquarters (GHQ) in Rawalpindi, Colonel General Karim Valiyev of Azerbaijan's defence forces and Field Marshal Syed Asim Munir of Pakistan's army discussed ways to further strengthen their defense cooperation.
The two military leaders focused on matters of mutual interest, with a particular emphasis on the prevailing global and regional security environment. They expressed a shared commitment to advancing defence cooperation and promoting joint efforts for regional peace and stability.
One of the key areas of discussion was air force modernization. Azerbaijan has shown keen interest in learning from Pakistan's combat experience and multi-domain warfare capabilities. In fact, Pakistan has agreed to supply JF-17 Block III fighter jets to Azerbaijan under a contract signed in 2024.
The meetings in 2025, including one at IDEF 2025 in Türkiye, have emphasized deeper military collaboration. Azerbaijan’s Defence Minister Zakir Hasanov met Pakistan’s General Sahir Shamshad Mirza to discuss enhancing bilateral defense ties, while Azerbaijan’s Deputy Minister and Director-General of Defense, Agil Gurbanov, led a delegation to Islamabad for extensive discussions with PAF Chief Air Chief Marshal Zaheer Ahmed Baber Sidhu.
Azerbaijan has expressed eagerness to adopt Pakistan's multi-domain operational methodologies, seen as a valuable model to strengthen its own defense capabilities. Pakistan has affirmed readiness to provide capacity-building support in areas including operational training, maintenance, and human resource development, aiming to help Azerbaijan modernize its air force and defense systems.
The meeting between Colonel General Karim and Field Marshal Munir also marked a significant moment in celebrating their bilateral relations. Field Marshal Munir reaffirmed Pakistan's deep fraternal bonds with Azerbaijan and thanked Azerbaijan's leadership and people for standing together with the people of Pakistan during difficult times.
Colonel General Valiyev, in turn, praised the Pakistan Armed Forces for their professionalism and success during the period of conflict with India, known as Marka-e-Haq. As a gesture of appreciation, he conferred the 'Patriotic War Medal' on Pakistan's Chief of Army Staff, Field Marshal Syed Asim Munir, on behalf of President IIham Aliyev of Azerbaijan, in recognition of his contributions in bilateral military cooperation.
The Azeri delegation extended best wishes for Pakistan's upcoming Independence Day and victory celebrations. The meeting is a testament to the strong bilateral relations between the two nations and comes amidst ongoing peace discussions between Azerbaijan and Armenia.
This meeting and the ongoing defense cooperation highlight a comprehensive and multifaceted partnership centered on air force capabilities and strategic military collaboration. However, no current public information ties "Operation Bunyan-um-Marsoos" to Azerbaijan-Pakistan cooperation. The defense cooperation detailed so far focuses mainly on air force modernization, multi-domain combat experience sharing, joint training, and military equipment supply.
During the discussion, both military leaders acknowledged the importance of promoting joint efforts in sports as a means of enhancing bilateral relations and fostering cooperation beyond the realm of defense.
Moreover, in the pursuit of regional stability and security, they agreed to explore the potential of collaborating in environmental conservation efforts, acknowledging the interconnectedness of the environment and its impact on global security.
