Dr. Ashfaq Ahmed | Hammad Nisar
Azerbaijan, Pakistan and Turkey strong trilateral relations are based on security, economic and diplomatic interests. Islamic identity is a major source of strengthening relationship among these countries. Pakistan and Turkey were the first two countries to recognize the Azerbaijan as an independent state after the disintegration of the Soviet Union on December 25, 1991. Islamabad refused to recognize Armenia for illegally occupying former Nagorno-Karabakh region. The relationship has become stronger after Azerbaijan got support of Pakistan and Turkey on Nagorno-Karabakh war in 2020.
Critical assessment of their relationship affirms deepening cooperation and to benefit from one another’s expertise in defence sector. Turkey is selling and transferring military technology such as drone parts, naval vessels and bombs etc. Pakistan has decided to import major defence equipments from Turkey to decrease its reliance on China and Western countries for military technology and weapons. Islamabad keeping in view Turkey’s difficulties in defence sector e.g. after acquiring S-400 air defense system from Russia, USA has halted its programs to transfer weapons technology to Turkey. Therefore, Pakistan and Turkey are likely to cooperate for co-developing missiles and fighter aircraft systems. Further, Azerbaijan has increased arms export from Turkey in recent years. Turkish sales of drones and other weapons have reached 77 million USD. The trilateral relationship has a significant military component.
“Three Brothers-2021” military exercises held in Baku, Azerbaijan in September 2021. Special Forces units of Azerbaijan, Pakistan and Turkey participated in these drills to improve the cooperation in the times of peace and war. Azerbaijan has shown significant interest in purchasing military equipment especially Pakistani-Chinese JF-17 fighter jets. After the Nagorno-Karabakh war Azerbaijan is eying to invest in the idea of joint ventures with Pakistani firms and providing a better environment to open production in the country. Pakistan and Turkey can become good alternatives for Azerbaijan to diversify and decrease its reliance on Russia and other states for defense imports.
Apart from the military cooperation, these three countries wants to increase the economic cooperation. In 2021, top officials signed “Islamabad Declaration” to strengthen the economic relationship and increase the cooperation in trade, investment, transportation, tourism and banking etc. Further, Azerbaijan, Pakistan and Turkey possess the ancient trade routes therefore they want to revive these ancient routes like China’s Belt and Road Initiatives which can improve the living standards of the people of these states.
This trilateral relationship is not based only on military cooperation, arms sale, trade and economy but diplomacy and soft power are more important in Azerbaijan’s relationship with Pakistan and Turkey. Azerbaijan bordered with Turkey and it provides an opportunity to Ankara to influence economically and geopolitically eastward in Caspian Sea and Central Asia.
When any state goes up against enemy whether it is armed conflict or diplomatic it is critical to consider the importance of support from allies and partners. On important issues which are related to the sovereignty and integrity no state want to be isolated internationally and needs support from its allies. The trilateral relationship between Azerbaijan, Pakistan and Turkey has ensured that none of these country are diplomatically isolated on any international platform. This can be seen on numerous times over the years. Azerbaijan values its relations with Pakistan and always supported Pakistan on Kashmir issue. When India unilaterally changed the status of the Indian Occupied Kashmir in August 2019, many Islamic countries of OIC left alone Pakistan. However, Azerbaijan and Turkey supported Pakistan on the Kashmir issue. In the same way Pakistan and Azerbaijan backed Turkey on the Cyprus issue. In 2020, when Nagorno-Karabakh conflict started, this partnership became more apparent as Pakistan and Turkey supported Azerbaijan. Pakistan is the only West Asian country that does not recognize Armenia’s independence in support of Azerbaijan. Turkey provided the “Bayraktar TB-2” drones to Azerbaijan during the Nagorno-Karabakh war which made a clear difference in the war and helped Azerbaijan to regain control of Karabakh from Armenia. Close relationship remains an important pillar of Azerbaijan-Pakistan-Turkey’s foreign policy.
Although Azerbaijan, Pakistan and Turkey are not confronted with the same issues but these three states are facing some common issues such as Islamophobia and suppression of Muslims in certain parts of the world. They are united by culture, history and determination to make alliance stronger for cooperation in the field of military, economy and energy sector. Azerbaijan, Pakistan and Turkey want to make a strong axis that will create new realities in Eurasia that can help in achieving the national interest of all these countries.
