Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif on Saturday vowed to safeguard Pakistan’s sovereignty and territorial integrity, highlighting the country’s decisive response during the four-day India-Pakistan clash in May, as he addressed the Victory Day Parade in Azerbaijan marking the fifth anniversary of the Karabakh war.

Speaking at the parade alongside Turkiye and Azerbaijani contingents, the prime minister said Pakistan, Azerbaijan, and Turkiye are “three brothers whose hearts beat together.”

He described the nations standing shoulder to shoulder to witness their forces marching in unison, a symbol of enduring friendship that has strengthened over the years.

Recalling Pakistan’s Independence Day celebrations on 14 August, PM Shehbaz noted that contingents from Turkiye and Azerbaijan marched alongside Pakistani forces to commemorate the nation’s independence and victories such as the Marka-e-Haq.

He praised Pakistan’s armed forces for their professionalism under the leadership of Chief of Army Staff Field Marshal Syed Asim Munir.

“Under the dynamic and fearless command of Chief of Army Staff, Field Marshal Syed Asim Munir, Pakistan’s highly professional armed forces delivered a bloody nose to our enemy with a precise and highly effective military punch that stunned the enemy into shock and disbelief,” he said.

He said, “Our ever vigilant Air Force hawks, commanded by Air Chief Marshall Zaheer Babar Sidhu, aptly shot down seven highly sophisticated enemy planes with lightning speed in defence of the motherland.“

The prime minister emphasised that Pakistan seeks peace but will not allow any challenge to its sovereignty or territorial integrity.

The prime minister specially acknowledged and appreciated the role of US President Donald Trump for his exemplary leadership that culminated in the success of these peace efforts.

He said it was also President Donald Trump’s bold and decisive leadership that brought about the ceasefire between Pakistan and India, restoring peace in South Asia.

Paying tribute to Azerbaijani forces, PM Shehbaz recited Allama Iqbal’s poetry and lauded their courage under President Ilham Aliyev’s leadership during the liberation of Karabakh.

He noted the rapid reconstruction of liberated territories, especially the city of Shusha, calling it the “jewel of Karabakh.”

He described Azerbaijan’s victory as a beacon of hope for nations fighting oppression, including Gaza and Indian Illegally Occupied Jammu and Kashmir.

He also acknowledged Turkiye’s President Recep Tayyip Erdogan and Qatar for facilitating peace talks with Afghan Taliban.

During the parade, the national anthems of Pakistan, Azerbaijan, and Turkiye were played, followed by a one-minute silence for the martyrs of the Karabakh war.

Contingents from Pakistan and Turkiye marched alongside Azerbaijani forces, and a flypast of JF-17 Thunder jets added to the ceremonial display.

PM Shehbaz concluded by reiterating Pakistan’s commitment to regional solidarity, strategic partnerships, and the defence of national sovereignty, saying the country will continue to stand firmly with its Azerbaijani and Turkish allies.