Azerbaijan-Iran Tension: Implications for Pakistan

Abstract

This research work explains that Pakistan supported Azerbaijan in Azerbaijan’s war against Armenia in Nagorno-Karabakh and in result, improved its reputation in the area. After that war Azerbaijan took control of an important route in Nagorno-Karabakh region and interpreted trade between Iran, Armenia and beyond. Iran issued warnings and started to use its influence within Azerbaijan to secure its interests which were answered offensively by Azerbaijan and resulted in conflicting situation. Later on Azerbaijan held military drill and despite Iran's objections, troops from Pakistan, Azerbaijan, and Turkey staged this drills near Azerbaijan’s capital Baku in September 2021. In response Iran bring its forces on the Azerbaijan’s border and started its own military exercise. These developments are alarming, and indicating Caucasus region has a new geopolitical realities, and Iran has many motives to get worried. Iran is a close neighboring state of Pakistan and Iranians’ counter-strategy to restore its influence must affect its relations with Pakistan.