Here's why Azerbaijan was cheering for Pakistan during clashes with India

Azerbaijan was among the countries that announced full support for Pakistan during the recent escalation in tensions between Pakistan and India, which brought the region to the brink of war.

Azerbaijan’s Ambassador to Pakistan, Khazar Farhadov, conveyed his government’s support and condemned Indian aggression at the time.

People in Azerbaijan also took to the streets to celebrate the Pakistan Air Force’s (PAF) successful response to Indian airstrikes in the early hours of May 10.

But where does this deep-rooted support from Azerbaijanis for Pakistan stem from?

The close ties between the two countries go back decades, particularly the shared stance in the Armenia-Azerbaijan conflict over the Nagorno-Karabakh region. Both Armenia and Azerbaijan have laid claim to the territory.

Despite being largely Armenian-populated, the Soviet Union placed the Nagorno-Karabakh Autonomous Oblast (NKAO) under Azerbaijani control in 1929.

As the USSR began to weaken in the 1980s and eventually collapsed in 1991, ethnic Armenians in the region reignited calls for self-determination, which led to a new phase of violent conflict.

This led to the First Nagorno-Karabakh War, in which Armenia successfully took control of the disputed territory.

In 1991, Pakistan, alongside Turkey and Romania, recognised Azerbaijan’s independence.

Pakistan and Azerbaijan formally established diplomatic ties in 1992.

In April 1993, Pakistan supported United Nations Security Council Resolution 822, which called for an immediate ceasefire and the withdrawal of Armenian occupying forces from Azerbaijani territory.

Pakistan also chaired the Security Council meeting during which the resolution was adopted.

Pakistan has consistently supported Azerbaijan’s territorial integrity at international forums. It is also an active member of the Organisation of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) Contact Group on the Aggression of Armenia Against Azerbaijan.

In 2012 and 2017, Pakistan’s Senate and National Assembly, respectively, passed resolutions recognising the Khojaly massacre as genocide.

The frozen conflict resurfaced again in 2020 during the Second Nagorno-Karabakh War in which  Azerbaijan regained control over large parts of the territory previously held by Armenia with Turkish military support.

Throughout the conflict, Pakistan also supported Azerbaijan’s right to self-defence. In October 2020, the National Assembly unanimously passed a resolution condemning Armenian aggression.

According to unconfirmed reports, Pakistani military advisors assisted Azerbaijani forces. The Pakistani Foreign Office denied any direct involvement of troops, stating that its support remained political and diplomatic.

After 44 days of fighting, Russia brokered a ceasefire and deployed peacekeepers to enforce the agreement.

Pakistan continued to support Azerbaijan’s territorial integrity after the 2020 war, including the 2023 military operation to gain full control over Nagorno-Karabakh.

Since 2021, the two countries have strengthened their military cooperation, including joint drills and major defence deals. Notably, Pakistan signed a $1.6 billion agreement to supply JF-17 fighter jets to Azerbaijan.

Pakistan-India tensions

Tensions between Pakistan and India escalated after the April 22 Pahalgam terrorist attack in Indian Illegally Occupied Jammu and Kashmir (IIOJK), in which 26 civilians were killed. India blamed Pakistan for the attack without presenting credible evidence.

Following the incident, India suspended the Indus Waters Treaty, which has been a key water-sharing agreement between the two countries signed in 1960, and governs the distribution of the Indus River and its tributaries.

The threat of war intensified, and on May 7 and 8, India launched airstrikes in various parts of Pakistan. At least three civilians were martyred, and 12 others injured in the attacks.

The airstrikes came amid heightened warmongering by India and public outrage following the Pahalgam incident. Pakistan strongly denied any involvement and offered a transparent investigation into the tragedy.

As tensions continued to rise, explosions were reported in Kotli, Bahawalpur, Muridke, Bagh, and Muzaffarabad on May 6 and 7.