The inaugural session of the Trilateral Speakers’ Meeting among Pakistan, Türkiye and Azerbaijan convened in Islamabad on 13 October 2025 under the chairmanship of Speaker National Assembly Sardar Ayaz Sadiq. The gathering brought together the Speaker of the Milli Majlis of Azerbaijan Madame Sahiba Gafarova, the Speaker of the Grand National Assembly of Türkiye Mr. Numan Kurtulmuş, and the Chairman Senate of Pakistan Syed Yousaf Raza Gilani, marking a renewed push for trilateral cooperation across parliamentary channels.
Speaker Sardar Ayaz Sadiq described the partnership as a manifestation of strategic friendship and the collective will of the peoples and parliaments of the three nations. Emphasizing the conference theme of strengthening ties for regional peace, security and prosperity, he called for sustained parliamentary engagement to translate shared vision into tangible outcomes.
On security concerns, the Speaker highlighted mounting global challenges including violations of sovereignty and the humanitarian crisis in Gaza, as well as the long-standing denial of the right to self-determination in Indian Illegally Occupied Jammu and Kashmir. He condemned India’s human rights record in IIOJK and criticised breaches such as the Indus Waters Treaty violation, labelling water-related measures as a threat to regional stability. He also paid tribute to Pakistan’s Armed Forces for their role in safeguarding sovereignty and referenced Operation Banyan al-Marsous as part of the response to recent aggression.
Speakers from Azerbaijan and Türkiye reiterated strong support for Pakistan and underscored the shared history, culture and moral values that underpin their relations. Madame Sahiba Gafarova noted the continuation of initiatives launched in Baku and praised parliamentary exchanges from 2021 to 2025, while reaffirming Azerbaijan’s support for Pakistan’s position on Jammu and Kashmir and condemning the violence in Gaza.
Mr. Numan Kurtulmuş emphasised the urgency of institutionalising parliamentary exchanges and described the three countries as closely linked partners in confronting terrorism and external aggression. He voiced support for UN reform to improve dispute resolution and disclosed that joint diplomatic efforts had helped secure recognition of Palestinian statehood by 11 countries, calling for accountability over crimes against humanity.
Climate resilience and humanitarian response were central to discussions, with speakers recalling Pakistan’s catastrophic floods in 2022 and 2025 and urging a unified parliamentary framework for climate action. Pakistan’s vulnerability to climate change and the need for regional cooperation to tackle such challenges were stressed as priorities for future trilateral work.
Chairman Senate Syed Yousaf Raza Gilani described the forum as more than diplomacy, framing it as a practical expression of common values that can deepen cooperation in security, trade, education, technology and culture from Ankara to Islamabad and Baku. The participants agreed to keep parliamentary momentum, with Mr. Kurtulmuş announcing Istanbul as the next venue and a focus on the Palestinian issue to amplify a coordinated parliamentary voice.
The inaugural session set a course for expanded trilateral cooperation, signalling stronger parliamentary diplomacy aimed at advancing regional peace, mutual support and shared prosperity among Pakistan, Türkiye and Azerbaijan.
