Why do Azerbaijan and Pakistan consider each other fraternal nations?

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The contemporary crisis of multilateralism has propelled bilateralism as a central diplomatic force in international relations. Bilateral ties remain an inevitable and valuable part of the larger international negotiations.

States engage primarily on a bilateral level to form alliances through which mutually shared interests can be represented more effectively in international political circles. Smaller states, in particular, can benefit from strong bilateral ties, as multilateral forms of engagement might drain their limited resources, while bilateralism offers a more focused and stronger agenda suitable for their national and political interests and needs.

Through bilateralism, countries can form a special relationship based on friendship and mutual support, especially if there is, at least initially, a strong bond or common interest acting as a binding force. Azerbaijan–Pakistan ties serve as an example of a strong bilateral relationship that has extended into political, economic, cultural, and defense sectors.

The friendship between these two nations is manifested in sociolinguistic and practical ways. Both countries perceive each other as fraternal nations. Officials from Baku and Islamabad often emphasize the brotherly and cordial ties during their visits and in statements. Although discursive expressions of friendship between states may be interpreted as superficial, they usually reveal a deeper bilateral connection that includes close collaboration on different institutional levels between political leaders, government administrations, and civil societies.

This language of brotherhood and friendship between Azerbaijan and Pakistan is not only symbolic. It is also visible in practical expressions through their supportive approach to each other’s foreign policy endeavors and solidarity in times of need and crisis. Due to a long and troubled history with their immediate neighbors over territorial issues, these two countries have found common political ground in advocating for each other’s territorial integrity, which has been transformed into a solid political alliance.

Deeper historical ties 

Pakistan was among the first countries to recognize the independence of Azerbaijan in 1991 and to arrange a leadership-level visit to Baku. Moreover, Pakistan’s official stance toward the question of Karabakh has remained constant, providing unconditional support to Azerbaijan in restoring its territorial sovereignty. Likewise, Azerbaijan has been a vocal supporter of Pakistan’s territorial struggles over Jammu and Kashmir. This mutual support is not a utilitarian exchange but a genuine contribution to the shared respect for one’s territorial sovereignty and is part of the fraternal connection that appreciates mutual solidarity.

Even though modern relations between Azerbaijan and Pakistan have a decades-long history, the bond between these two countries is rooted in a deeper historical context. Both countries’ territorial issues are the legacies of two colonialist powers, the communist Soviet Union and the imperial British Empire.

After becoming independent, both Karabakh and Kashmir have been occupied by Armenia and India by force, becoming focal points of several Azerbaijan-Armenia and Pakistan-India conflicts. An uncertain geopolitical environment and the military threat from immediate neighbors forced Azerbaijan and Pakistan to make considerable investments in their defense and military capabilities.

Azerbaijan also continues to support a peaceful resolution of the Jammu and Kashmir issue in line with UN Security Council resolutions, exhibiting Baku’s commitment to Pakistan’s territorial concerns. However, the reciprocity in ties between states should not be interpreted as a simple “tit-for-tat” exchange but rather a political relationship based on the sentiment of solidarity and friendship. Politically, allied nations are committed to shared ideas of how the international system should operate and thus perceive each other’s support as sufficient.

Diplomatic rifts and reconciliation

The outcomes of bilateral relationships based on fraternal ties can often include diplomatic rifts with states that are on adversarial terms with either of the friendly states. Until recently, Pakistan did not recognize Armenia as a state due to persisting tensions between Baku and Yerevan. The absence of diplomatic relations between Pakistan and Armenia was a sign of Pakistan's deep commitment and support for Azerbaijan’s pursuit of territorial integrity.

Azerbaijan, although in a more balanced manner, has responded to the Pakistan-India conflict over the sensitive Kashmir issue with a supportive voice in international fora such as the UN and the Organization of Islamic Cooperation, defending Islamabad’s stance. Due to its friendly ties with Pakistan, Azerbaijan has experienced diplomatic strains in its relations with India. Azerbaijan’s renewed expression of solidarity with Pakistan following recent Indo-Pakistani clashes has drawn criticism from India, which responded by blocking Baku’s bid for full membership in the Shanghai Cooperation Organization.

As friendly relationships can cause diplomatic issues with a friend’s adversaries, they can also bring reconciliation and normalization of relations in case of shifting political circumstances. After restoring its territorial integrity, Azerbaijan and Armenia have moved closer to a peaceful resolution of their longstanding conflict.

These two South Caucasus countries are in the process of concluding a long-lasting security agreement and ending decades-long instability and hostility in the region. Pakistan has recently established diplomatic relations with Armenia, which has been a sign of support for Baku’s policy of pursuing peace with Yerevan.

A way forward 

Even though the resolution of the Karabakh issue dilutes the common political ground between Azerbaijan and Pakistan, as the cornerstone of the brotherly relations has been concentrated on the issue of territorial integrity, the Azerbaijan–Pakistan partnership seems to be well-institutionalized and resilient to changes. Entrenched diplomatic channels and a network of contacts between the two countries continue to foster close bilateral collaboration.

For over three decades, Azerbaijan and Pakistan have been deeply engaged in developing strategic and productive cooperation, which has outgrown the initial political bond. Today, these ties consist of numerous bilateral agreements that include political, economic, cultural, and defense collaboration. From a numerical standpoint in contractual and legal relations, Azerbaijan and Pakistan have signed 53 documents, with 13 more under consideration. Considering the volume of bureaucratic cooperation, frequency of official visits, and persistent mutual political support, fraternal relations between Azerbaijan and Pakistan are expected to continue growing.

Nina Miholjčić-Ivković is an international affairs expert with a focus on the strategic analysis of foreign policies in the South Caucasus, Russia, Central Asia, and the Balkans. Her research interests include contemporary migration trends in the wider Eurasian region, and she is engaged in advancing both academic and practical knowledge in migration studies, post-Soviet geopolitics, security studies, and European politics.

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