Eduard Sharmazanov, spokesperson for the Republican Party of Armenia (RPA), criticized Armenia's decision to establish diplomatic relations with Pakistan, recalling that Pakistan had maintained an anti-Armenian stance throughout the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict.
In a Facebook post, Sharmazanov wrote: “We prevented Pakistan from becoming an observer in the CSTO Parliamentary Assembly, and now the Civil Contract party is establishing diplomatic ties with Pakistan.”
He reminded that during the entire process of the Nagorno-Karabakh settlement, Pakistan consistently opposed Armenia, refusing to recognize Armenia as long as it supported the right of the people of Artsakh to self-determination.
“On all parliamentary platforms, Pakistan unilaterally supported Azerbaijan's position,” Sharmazanov said. He recalled that during the April 2016 war, Pakistan issued five pro-Azerbaijani statements.
Later, the speaker of Pakistan’s parliament expressed interest in joining the CSTO Parliamentary Assembly as an observer. “But since a consensus was required, Armenia's delegation leader had the power to block the decision,” Sharmazanov said.
He added that while most CSTO member parliaments were in favor, Armenia opposed Pakistan’s observer status until it recognized Armenia and the right of the people of Artsakh to self-determination, in accordance with the OSCE Minsk Group's Basic Principles.
“In short, Pakistan didn’t become an observer because of the pro-state stance of the Armenian delegation,” he stated. “Now these people are making deals with Pakistan and calling it a diplomatic success.”
Sharmazanov concluded by accusing the ruling party of submissiveness: “Their diplomacy is simple: if they can’t cut off the hand, they kiss it and place it over the nation’s head. Let’s see whose hand they’ll kiss next.”
In May 2025, Pakistani Prime Minister Muhammad Shehbaz Sharif stated in Lachin that “Azerbaijan was once attacked by Armenia” and that “Turkey and Pakistan stood by Azerbaijan like a mountain.”
