Azerbaijan Claims India Blocked Its SCO Membership Bid As President Aliyev Prioritises 'Brotherhood' With Pakistan

India has reportedly blocked Azerbaijan’s application for full membership in the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO), sparking criticism in Azerbaijani media, which accused New Delhi of undermining “multilateral diplomacy.”

Commentators in Baku linked India’s decision to Azerbaijan’s overt backing of Pakistan during Operation Sindoor, India’s counter-terror operation in response to the Pahalgam terror attack.

During a recent meeting with Pakistani Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif in Tianjin, Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev congratulated Islamabad for what he described as its “victory” over India in the conflict earlier this year.

He stressed that, regardless of India’s position in international forums, Azerbaijan would continue to prioritise its “brotherhood” with Pakistan, according to Turkish daily Daily Sabah.

Aliyev highlighted that ties with Islamabad extend beyond politics, rooted in cultural and strategic cooperation. He also discussed strengthening trade and economic relations under the Azerbaijani-Pakistani intergovernmental commission.

Meanwhile, Azerbaijani broadcaster AnewZ alleged that New Delhi “once again” blocked Baku’s SCO membership, claiming Pakistan’s recent outreach to Armenia was aligned with Azerbaijan’s broader “peace agenda.”

Azerbaijan has consistently backed Pakistan on key regional issues. Following Operation Sindoor, Baku expressed concern over the “escalation of tensions” between India and Pakistan, openly siding with Islamabad.

Over the past few years, Azerbaijan and Pakistan have expanded cooperation in defence, trade, and regional security, further consolidating their partnership.

India, a founding member of the SCO, has not officially commented on Azerbaijan’s stalled membership bid. However, Baku’s growing closeness with Islamabad, especially its alignment during military and diplomatic flashpoints, appears to have deepened friction with New Delhi.

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