Kerim Sultanov
Azerbaijan is interested in strengthening its bilateral ties with Muslim countries. It has already succeeded in this desire. Political and economic relations between Azerbaijan and the Islamic Republic of Pakistan are a vivid example of how two Muslim countries can establish unshakable ties.
But Azerbaijan and Pakistan are also cooperating in another significant sector, which is military cooperation. Pakistan is in the list of the countries, which was amongst the first to acknowledge Azerbaijan’s independence. And today the people of Azerbaijan and the state are grateful to the great nation of Pakistan, which supported Azerbaijan at the time of its development. During the Karabakh conflict from 1988-1994, neighboring Armenia claimed on historical territories of Azerbaijan. At that time Azerbaijan was left alone by international community to face military aggression of Armenia and its supporters. In 1991, when Azerbaijan proclaimed its independence, Pakistan extended its brotherly support to the newly formed state despite of the fact that its existence was under threat.
Azerbaijan is facing problems connected with its occupied lands as 20 percent of Azerbaijan’s territories are now under the control of neighboring Armenia. Development of the military power and forces is the priority of Azerbaijan’s Government and it pays particular focus towards it.
Pakistan is a reliable partner of Azerbaijan in all spheres of bilateral ties. Military cooperation is not exclusion. Today, military-technical cooperation between Pakistan and Azerbaijan is increasing by the passing time. Dialogs between working groups of both countries were organized on the highest level. As a result, treaties on military and defense cooperation between Pakistan and Azerbaijan were signed in 2014 in Islamabad. They were renewed afterwards in years 2015 and 2017.
Azerbaijan’s Ambassador to Pakistan, His Excellency Ali Alizade recently met the highest military authorities of Pakistan to further enhance the cooperation. As a result of these interactions, an agreement of increasing military technical cooperation was signed between the two countries.
During the last 10 years, approximately 100 Azeri soldiers got military trainings at various defence related instititions on Pakistan. The leadership of Pakistan Army have been frequently visiting Baku.
Moreover, Azerbaijan has also expressed its intentions to purchase from Pakistan the multi-role combat aircraft JF-17 Thunder. Baku and Islamabad have completed negotiations on the purchase of these JF-17 fighter-jets.
All the talks associated with the delivery of fighters have already been made and Pakistan and Azerbaijan are at the final stage of negotiations.
The configuration of JF-17 Block 2, which is of Azerbaijan’s interest, has already completed tests and is being used by the Pakistan Air Force, for which the Azerbaijan authorities were waiting.
JF-17 is a real candidate for rearmament of Azerbaijan’s aircraft forces and the intention of Azerbaijan to purchase these aircrafts and Pakistan’s desire to sell it shows that partnership, cooperation and brotherhood between Pakistan and Azerbaijan are on the highest level.
JF-17 is equipped with a new radar system KLJ-7A that helps to find enemy’s systems and objects at a distance of 170 km away from the territory of its own location.
The forthcoming purchase of JF-17 systems from Islamabad also demonstrates wisdom of today’s Azerbaijan’s Government and reflects the wise and effective policies of President Ilham Aliyev which is also according to the interests of the people of Azerbaijan.
The friendly policies of the Azerbaijan Government have resulted in the enhancement of bilateral relations with various countries including Pakistan, which is one of the most reliable friend and partner of Azerbaijan.
– The author is one of the leading experts at the International expert club “EurAsiaAz” (based in Azerbaijan).
