On 8 November, a Victory Day ceremony was held in Baku, the capital of Azerbaijan, attended by Pakistan’s Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, the President of Turkey, and other leaders.
On this occasion, along with the national anthem of Azerbaijan, the tune of the Pakistani national anthem was also played. This day is celebrated in Azerbaijan in memory of the splendid victory in the Second Karabakh War. Notably, a special contingent of the Pakistani army participated in Azerbaijan’s Victory Day parade, and the Pakistani military contingent, holding the national flag, saluted the guests. On this occasion, the roar of Pakistan’s JF-17 Thunder aircraft thrilled the spectators. Pakistani helicopters also took part in a flypast together with Turkey and Azerbaijan. Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif described Azerbaijan, Turkey, and Pakistan as three brothers and said that we are witnessing the liberation of Karabakh with our own eyes; five years ago, Azerbaijan’s forces liberated their land, and during the war, Pakistan stood with them like a rock. In the future, it will continue to stand like a steel wall.
From the perspective of Pakistan’s foreign policy trajectory, the increase in Pakistan’s regional importance since the Battle of Truth also highlights the special significance of its relations with Azerbaijan. Azerbaijan fought wars from 1988 to 1994 and then until 2020, and in the 2023 conflict, Turkey and Pakistan supported Azerbaijan, while Azerbaijan’s own courage and strength also strongly contributed. Both countries have also signed agreements in various sectors, including cultural cooperation, trade promotion, educational exchanges, and energy. Among these agreements, the energy sector is particularly notable, where new opportunities for oil and gas transmission and investment are emerging between Pakistan and Azerbaijan. Recently, as of 1 January 2025, Azerbaijan has proven natural gas reserves of approximately 60 trillion cubic feet and oil reserves of 7 billion barrels, making it an important energy provider for Europe and Asia, producing more than 38.1 billion cubic meters of natural gas annually.
Pakistan, which has suffered from an energy crisis, can directly benefit from these relations. Recently, a draft agreement at the government level in the oil and gas sector between the two countries has been finalized, which will allow Pakistan to import affordable gas and participate in pipeline projects. In addition, energy corridors extending from the Caspian Sea to Europe, such as the Southern Gas Corridor, will help Pakistan open trade gateways between Central Asia and Europe, where electricity transmission of 4 to 6 gigawatts could be possible through underground and submarine cables. The participation of the special contingent of the Pakistani army and the roar of aircraft in the Victory Day parade not only highlighted the brotherhood between the two countries but also laid the foundation for future joint military exercises and intelligence sharing.
The trilateral alliance of Pakistan, Azerbaijan, and Turkey is giving a new direction to the geopolitical situation of Eurasia. In terms of economic benefits, relations with Turkey and Azerbaijan can elevate Pakistan’s economy to new heights. Pakistan and Azerbaijan have set a target to increase trade to 2 billion dollars, while joining the Customs Union with Turkey and partnerships with countries like Georgia and Romania will open global trade routes, giving Pakistani traders direct access to Europe. In addition, cooperation in tourism, IT, and science and technology will create new employment opportunities. In the past, these relations received limited attention, but in the next 5 to 8 years, the shift of the global balance from the Global North to the Global South will make this trilateral alliance even more significant. According to the Foreign Office, Azerbaijan’s inclination is moving towards Pakistan, which will help attract investment despite Afghan conflicts and security challenges. The Pakistani leadership’s visit will not only strengthen the relations but also give Pakistan’s regional importance a new dimension, where, if foreign policy is correctly directed based on peace, trade, and defense coordination, it could yield benefits in the future.
