BBC News
July 8 2004

Musharraf seeks Azerbaijan deals

By Chloe Arnold
BBC correspondent in Baku

Musharraf will be looking for agreements on oil and gas
The president of Pakistan, Pervez Musharraf, is beginning a two-day
visit to the oil-rich former Soviet republic of Azerbaijan on
Thursday.
The countries have signed military accords in the past, and the visit
is likely to result in closer ties between the two mainly Muslim
nations.

The leaders of Azerbaijan and Pakistan make unusual partners.

Historically, the two countries have had little to do with each
other. But General Musharraf’s visit will put the seal on a
burgeoning relationship.

Oil and gas deals

In the past year, the two countries have already signed a defence
co-operation deal under which Pakistan is helping to train officers
from Azerbaijan.

This week’s visit, the first by a Pakistani leader to Azerbaijan, is
expected to produce further accords on economic co-operation, which
would enable Pakistan to buy oil and gas from Azerbaijan’s vast
offshore fields.

With its eight million population, Azerbaijan is tiny compared to
Pakistan, home to more than 150 million people.

But officials from the two countries say they have much in common.

Both have a majority Muslim population, and both have big issues to
resolve with their neighbours. Pakistan is in conflict with India
over Kashmir, while Azerbaijan is in dispute with Armenia over the
enclave of Nagorno-Karabakh.

A spokesman for Pakistan’s embassy in Azerbaijan said General
Musharraf’s visit was an opportunity for the two partners to deepen
their friendship.