(MENAFN- AzerNews)
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Rena Murshud read more India was the first country to recognize the independence of
Armenia following the collapse of the Soviet Union. But the main
reason for such friendship is Azerbaijan's fraternal relations with
Pakistan. After all, the war between India and Pakistan has been
going on for more than 75 years. Alternatively, it is worth noting
that Pakistan was the first country to recognize the state
independence of Azerbaijan. And also, he supported us in the 44-day
Patriotic War. India, which could not and cannot digest this
reality, is currently providing military support to Armenia and
delivering weapons through Iran.
At present, while the situation in the South Caucasus is tense,
and when both Europe and Russia are competing to solidify their
influence in the region, India's such behaviour could mean just an
act of destabilising th region.
"Unfortunately, India has been trying its best to establish long
term strategic partnership with Armenia since long. Interestingly
both countries signed a deal for the supply of the latest military
equipment from India. It seems that the warmongerings of Armenia
and India have reached to a new complex and complicated strategic
level which would change the security equation in the South
Caucasus. In this regard, both countries enjoy a treaty of
friendship and cooperation signed in 1995," Pakistani political
analyst Dr. Mehmud ul Hassan Khan told AZERNEWS in a comment on the
issue. He said that Indian news site Economic Times had published
an article in its September 29, 2022 edition on Armenia's ordering
heavy weapons from India worth an estimated $245 million. It
includes missiles, rockets and ammunition amid escalating tension
between Armenia and Azerbaijan over the Karabakh region, which was
largely liberated by the armed forces of Azerbaijan from Armenian
illegal occupation in late 2020. The order also includes the first
ever export of the indigenous Pinaka multi-barrel rocket launchers
that are also used by the Indian army, as well as anti-tank rockets
and a range of ammunition.
According to the expert, India in 2020 had also supplied four
Swathi radars to Armenia during the Karabakh War with Azerbaijan.
The deal was significant because Russian and Polish vendors were
also in the race to sell radars to Armenia. However, Armenia was
defeated and a peace treaty was brokered by Russia and Türkiye. the
Indian external affairs minister S Jaishankar had a meeting with
Armenian foreign minister Ararat Mirzoyan during the 77th session
of the UN General Assembly in New York 2022.
Talking about all the details of the relations between India and
Armenia, the expert had told that, the“geo-strategic dimensions”
of the South Caucasus are going to be changed and“re-adjusted”
very soon. The trans-regional military deal of Armenia and India
has numerous“spillover” geopolitical and geostrategic
“repercussions” for the region and beyond.
"New military partnership between two“hegemonic countries” is a
wake-up call for Azerbaijan, Türkiye, and even Pakistan having a
trilateral security dialogue. The three brotherly countries must
engage in serious military strategic dialogue to counter the
increasing military presence and interest of India in the South
Caucasus," the expert added.
The pundit also touched upon the fraternal Azerbaijani-Pakistani
relations. "It is good omen that military cooperation is getting
momentum for the last two years between Pakistan and Azerbaijan.
The military cooperation in terms of training, joint drills,
military education, joint production and anti-terrorism and last
but not least Air Force cooperation in JF Thunder17 are at advanced
stage," the professor added.
And not only the relations between Azerbaijan and Pakistan, but
also the inseparable fraternal bond between Turkiye and Azerbaijan
and the project to create a fifth-generation Turkish fighter Kaan
are of great importance.
Hopefully this proposed and prospective agreement will be
formalized by a bilateral agreement, which is planned to be signed
as part of the International Defense Industry Exhibition
(IDEF-2023) taking place in Istanbul. Interestingly, Baku's
participation in the project should be seen as an important step in
the modernization of the Azerbaijani Air Force, equipped with
Russian MiG-29 aircraft. The fifth-generation fighter Kaan has been
created in Turkiye since 2017 as part of the National Combat
Aircraft program. It is planned that it will make its first flight
this year, and its mass production will begin in 2028. The Turkish
authorities have previously stated that the Kaan will surpass the
American F-35 in terms of tactical and technical characteristics
and in the future will replace the F-16 fighters in service with
the Republic's Air Force," the expert told.
Then expert also spoke about Iran's' double-standard policy
towards Azerbaijan, and, of course, about their role in this
matter.
Historically, Iran has been in good relations with India and
Armenia since a long history. In this regard, illegally occupied
areas of Azerbaijan's Karabak have been used by the Iranian people
and the regime for smuggling to mitigate imposed socio-economic
sanctions.
Interestingly after the successful peace agreement with regional
power Saudi Arabia the policy makers of Iran are trying to spread
their wings of cooperation, diplomatic ties, food and energy
cooperation and last but not least create numerous socio-economic
comfort zones in the region and beyond. Most recently, the Iranian
president Raisi visited African continent and explored bilateral
energy and diverse cooperation with many countries showing new urge
in its government to form new alliances, search out new markets and
reach out to new potential friends.
At the same time, while expressing his reaction to the
processes, the Pakistani expert noted that Azerbaijan is an
important strategic partner for Pakistan in every sense in the
South Caucasus, and primarily a Muslim state.
"Pakistan has especial diplomatic ties with brotherly Azerbaijan
which is genuine, great, permanent and progressive. We both share
historic religious, culture and human ties since centuries. Right
from the beginning, the successive governments of Pakistan and
military establishment did not recognize Armenia and always stood
with Azerbaijan in its all ticks and thins and ups and Downs in the
past.
The journey of mutual trust, respect and love has been the real
essence of our political engagements, economic cooperation and
diplomatic ties between two countries," Khan said.
According to the expert, now Pakistan and Azerbaijan have
established strategic partnership having signed PTA and moving
towards FTA in the near future. The bilateral cooperation in energy
sector especially in LNG and signing of functional agreement with
SOCAR and IT companies has further strengthened scope, utility and
importance of bilateral relations.
"Moreover, the Free Export of rice from Pakistan along with
increasing agriculture cooperation all indicate further
socio-economic integration between the two countries.
Simply, Pakistan-Azerbaijan military cooperation is getting
momentum and has already jointly explored possibilities of greater,
effective, instrumental and permanent military cooperation between
the two sides," he concluded.
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Follow Rena Murshud on Twitter: @r enatagiyeva