The inaugural session of the Trilateral Speakers Meeting among Pakistan, Türkiye and Azerbaijan convened at the National Assembly Secretariat in Islamabad under the chairmanship of Speaker National Assembly Sardar Ayaz Sadiq. The session was attended by the Speaker of the Milli Majlis of Azerbaijan Madame Sahiba Gafarova, the Speaker of the Grand National Assembly of Türkiye Mr. Numan Kurtulmus, and the Chairman Senate of Pakistan Syed Yousaf Raza Gilani, along with parliamentary delegations from all three countries.
Speaker Sardar Ayaz Sadiq described the trilateral parliamentary cooperation as a unique expression of strategic partnership and fraternal unity that channels the collective will of the peoples of the three brotherly nations. Highlighting the conference theme of strengthening fraternal ties and parliamentary cooperation for regional peace, security and prosperity, he said the Trilateral Speakers Meeting reflects a shared vision and spirit of brotherhood among Islamabad, Ankara and Baku.
Addressing global security pressures, the Speaker pointed to ongoing humanitarian suffering in Gaza and the denial of the right to self-determination in Indian Illegally Occupied Jammu and Kashmir, calling these matters indelible scars on the conscience of humanity. He strongly condemned India’s human rights violations in IIOJK and referenced a recent act of aggression that, he said, was effectively countered through Operation Banyan al-Marsous, paying tribute to Pakistan’s armed forces for safeguarding national sovereignty.
Speaker Sadiq thanked international friends including Türkiye, Azerbaijan, China and Saudi Arabia for their support during testing times and criticized what he termed India’s breach of the Indus Waters Treaty, warning that water terrorism undermines regional stability. He reiterated that terrorism has no religion and urged collective action, while noting Pakistan’s restraint amid repeated provocations and cross-border attacks originating from Afghan soil and lauding the precision of counterterrorism operations.
On climate concerns, the Speaker reminded delegates that Pakistan remains among the most climate-vulnerable nations and that the devastating floods of 2022 and 2025 exposed global climate injustice. He called for enhanced regional cooperation and a unified parliamentary framework to lead climate response and disaster resilience in South and Central Asia.
Madame Sahiba Gafarova congratulated the hosts on convening the session and framed the meeting as a continuation of initiatives launched in Baku in 2021, including parliamentary exchanges and the Non-Aligned Movement Parliamentary Network. She expressed gratitude for Pakistan’s support during Azerbaijan’s 44-day Patriotic War, reaffirmed Azerbaijan’s support for Pakistan’s position on Jammu and Kashmir, and condemned Israeli aggression in Gaza while urging implementation of ceasefire commitments.
Mr. Numan Kurtulmus of Türkiye described the conference as timely and significant, stressing the need for regular parliamentary exchanges and institutionalised cooperation between the three countries, which he termed three states one nation. He offered condolences over the human and economic losses from Pakistan’s recent floods, reaffirmed Türkiye’s solidarity, reiterated that there can be no compromise in the fight against terrorism, and urged UN reform to better address disputes such as Kashmir and Palestine. He also noted that joint efforts had helped secure recognition of Palestinian statehood by 11 countries and announced that the next trilateral parliamentary meeting will be hosted in Istanbul with a focus on the Palestinian issue.
Chairman Senate Syed Yousaf Raza Gilani recalled deep cultural and faith-based ties binding Azerbaijan, Türkiye and Pakistan, and said the trilateral forum is a practical demonstration of shared values. He called on parliaments to foster cooperation across security, trade, education, technology and culture, and described the Islamabad meeting as the beginning of a new chapter in parliamentary diplomacy for peace, development and prosperity.
The Trilateral Speakers Meeting underlined the growing role of parliamentary diplomacy in advancing regional peace, security and climate action. Delegations from Pakistan, Türkiye and Azerbaijan concluded the inaugural session with commitments to institutionalise exchanges, pursue collective responses to regional challenges and prepare for the next meeting in Istanbul as part of an emerging parliamentary cooperation framework.
