In a historic development on the sidelines of the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation summit in Tianjin, Pakistan and Armenia formally established diplomatic relations when their foreign ministers signed a joint communiqué on August 31. Pakistan’s Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister, Ishaq Dar, and Armenian Foreign Minister, Ararat Mirzoyan, exchanged official documents affirming mutual recognition and heralding a new chapter in bilateral ties—a shift that breaks decades of estrangement rooted in regional rivalries and Pakistan’s prior alignment with Azerbaijan.
Both leaders endorsed the principles of the United Nations Charter and expressed commitment to exploring cooperation in areas such as the economy, education, culture, and tourism. They also pledged to work closely in both bilateral and multilateral fora to promote peace, progress, and prosperity for their citizens. In statements on the social platform X, Ishaq Dar emphasized his satisfaction at signing the communiqué, while Mirzoyan described the move as “a major step” toward mutually beneficial engagement.
This breakthrough follows a period of cautious diplomacy. Earlier in the week, both ministers had a telephonic conversation that signalled the intent to normalize ties following the US-mediated peace agreement between Armenia and Azerbaijan . Pakistan’s long-standing support for Azerbaijan in the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict and its prior refusal to recognize Armenia made this diplomatic thaw particularly notable.
The normalization of relations also underscores Pakistan’s broader efforts to recalibrate its foreign policy amid regional shifts. Islamabad has expressed optimism that the peace between Armenia and Azerbaijan can act as a catalyst for stability and closer regional integration.
The 2025 SCO summit in Tianjin, which brought together a wide array of global leaders, and where this diplomatic milestone occurred represents a pivotal backdrop for this thaw in Pakistan–Armenia relations.
