Azerbaijan Accuses India Of Blocking SCO Membership As “Revenge” Over Pakistan Ties
Azerbaijan slams India for blocking its SCO membership, calling it ‘revenge’ for ties with Pakistan, turning a regional forum into a new arena of rivalry. ( image courtesy RNA)
Azerbaijan has accused India of deliberately blocking its bid for full membership in the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO), framing the move as an act of “revenge” for Baku’s close partnership with Pakistan.
The allegation underscores the growing geopolitical friction in South and Central Asia, where historical rivalries and regional security concerns are increasingly shaping alliances.
According to Azerbaijani media reports, New Delhi’s decision to oppose Baku’s membership is linked to Azerbaijan’s open support for Pakistan during Operation Sindoor, India’s military response to terror infrastructure in Pakistan and Pakistan-occupied Kashmir after the Pahalgam terror attack.
Azerbaijani outlets such as AnewZ claimed India had “once again” blocked Baku’s application, calling the move a violation of “multilateral diplomacy.”
The controversy gained further traction after Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev, meeting Pakistani Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif in Tianjin, congratulated Islamabad for what he described as a “victory” over India in their earlier conflict.
Aliyev reaffirmed Azerbaijan’s “brotherhood” with Pakistan, citing shared political, cultural, and strategic ties. He also pledged to expand bilateral trade and defence cooperation through the Azerbaijani-Pakistani intergovernmental commission.
The timing of the accusations is notable, as Pakistan has recently considered establishing diplomatic relations with Armenia, a move seen as coordinated with Baku to counter Indian influence in the Caucasus.
Analysts say this triangulation reflects Azerbaijan’s attempt to balance regional alignments while doubling down on its partnership with Islamabad.
For India, blocking Azerbaijan’s SCO membership appears to be a strategic signal. New Delhi views the SCO as a critical forum for counterterrorism, connectivity, and Eurasian stability.
Allowing Baku, a staunch supporter of Pakistan during sensitive security crises, into the fold would undermine India’s position within the bloc, especially amid rising tensions with Islamabad.
The episode highlights how multilateral platforms like the SCO are increasingly becoming arenas for bilateral disputes. While Baku frames India’s move as punitive, New Delhi is likely to see it as a necessary safeguard against what it perceives as Azerbaijan’s alignment with Pakistan at the expense of regional balance.
