Pakistan Strengthens Ties with Turkey and Azerbaijan Amid Diplomatic Shifts

Pakistan Strengthens Ties with Turkey and Azerbaijan Amid Diplomatic Shifts

Pakistan Strengthens Ties with Turkey and Azerbaijan Amid Diplomatic Shifts

Pakistan is strategically reinforcing its relationships with its long-standing allies, Turkey and Azerbaijan, as it navigates the shifting geopolitical landscape in South Asia. This move comes after Indonesia’s President accepted India's invitation for Republic Day, which effectively sidelined his planned visit to Islamabad. In response, Pakistan has intensified its engagement with Baku and Ankara, particularly in the defense sector.

Just last week, Azerbaijan’s Minister of Defence Industry, Vugar Mustafayev, visited Islamabad to explore deeper cooperation in military and defense industries. His visit coincided with the 8th Session of the Joint Ministerial Commission between the two nations, where key discussions centered around expanding defense collaboration beyond joint exercises. In a reciprocal effort, Major General Abdullah Kashif, a senior military officer from Pakistan, traveled to Baku to discuss strengthening military ties. Reports indicate that both sides are working towards finalizing agreements on advanced defense production and sales, a move that could significantly enhance Pakistan’s military capabilities.

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During these high-profile meetings, Pakistani Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif and Minister Mustafayev reaffirmed their countries' commitment to strengthening and diversifying their bilateral relationship. One of the major highlights of these discussions was an agreement to accelerate the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) for the joint production of defense equipment. Additionally, talks are underway to establish an Advanced Electronic Data Interchange between Azerbaijan’s State Customs Committee and Pakistan Customs Service, aiming to improve trade efficiency.

Meanwhile, Turkey is also playing a crucial role in Pakistan’s foreign policy recalibration. Next month, Turkish President Recep Tayyip ErdoÄŸan is set to visit Pakistan, a trip that is expected to shape the future of bilateral ties between the two nations. Analysts are closely watching ErdoÄŸan’s stance on the Kashmir issue, as there have been subtle indications that Turkey may be softening its pro-Pakistan position in order to expand its influence in India. This shift follows Turkey’s successful bid to gain India's support for its inclusion in the BRICS partnership mechanism last year.

Beyond military cooperation, Pakistan is also looking to Azerbaijan for energy sector collaboration. Islamabad has expressed interest in inviting Azerbaijan to participate in key infrastructure projects such as the White Oil Pipeline. This signals Pakistan’s broader strategy of leveraging its alliances not just for defense but also for economic and energy security.

These recent diplomatic maneuvers indicate Pakistan’s commitment to strengthening ties with its old allies as it navigates shifting regional alliances. With Azerbaijan and Turkey playing an increasingly pivotal role, the coming months will be critical in determining how these partnerships evolve and whether they can effectively counterbalance the growing influence of India in the region.

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