Pakistan's strategic stake in Azerbaijan

Pakistani Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif's two-day visit to Azerbaijan on February 23-24 reflects the growing affinity between the two nations that share religion and culture.

- SMRUTI S PATTANAIK

Among the South Caucasus countries, Pakistan's relationship with Azerbaijan ranges from political and defence to economic relationships. During this visit, Prime Minister Sharif promised to "solidify and expand this friendship" that "extends from the warm waters of the Arabian Sea to the Caspian Sea".

As Pakistan is facing economic challenges and seeking investment, this visit would bring in Azerbaijan's $2 billion investment in areas that serve mutual interest. The two countries signed 10 MoUs. Agreements to operationalise these MoUs are expected to be finalised in April. Notably, in July last year, President Ilham Aliyev of Azerbaijan made his first bilateral state visit to Islamabad, where Prime Minister Sharif received him. This signifies the growing depth of the bilateral ties between the two countries.

Pakistan's defence cooperation agreement with Azerbaijan is vital, especially in the context of India's close defence cooperation with Armenia and the ethnic and territorial conflict between Azerbaijan and Armenia over the region of Nagorno-Karabakh. In September 2024, Azerbaijan purchased JF-17 Block III fighter jets worth $1.6 billion from Pakistan. Pakistan Aeronautical Complex (PAC) and China's Chengdu Aircraft Corporation jointly developed the aircraft under an MoU signed by the two nations in 1995.

Interestingly, while this sale for Pakistan means expanding its nascent indigenous defence production market, for Azerbaijan, it signifies a diversification of its defence procurement that has primarily depended on Russia. Moreover, bolstering the defence partnership is essential in the context of its conflict with Armenia. India has close defence cooperation with Armenia, and Azerbaijan is critical of this. Unlike India, which maintains good relations with Azerbaijan and Armenia, Pakistan has yet to establish a diplomatic relationship with Armenia.