ISLAMABAD: Pakistan and Armenia on Sunday formalized diplomatic relations with an exchange of a joint communique between the two sides in China, the Pakistani foreign office said, with both sides discussing cooperation in economy, tourism and other sectors.
Pakistan and Armenia did not have diplomatic ties mainly due to the rivalry between Azerbaijan and Armenia over the disputed Karabakh region, with Islamabad consistently backing Baku.
This month, Pakistani Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar held a telephonic conversation with his Armenian counterpart Ararat Mirzoyan, during which they agreed to consider establishing Islamabad-Yerevan diplomatic ties.
The phone call followed US President Donald Trump announcement that Armenia and Azerbaijan had committed to lasting peace after decades of conflict as he hosted the leaders of the South Caucasus rivals at a White House signing event.
“The Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister of Islamic Republic of Pakistan, Senator Mohammad Ishaq Dar, today formally exchanged a Joint Communiqué with the Foreign Minister of Armenia, Mr. Ararat Mirzoyan, thereby establishing diplomatic relations between the two countries,” the Pakistani foreign office said on Sunday, following their meeting on the sidelines of a Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) summit in China’s Tianjin.
