5 days ago
Israel or Iran... Who is Pakistan ally Azerbaijan a friend or foe of? Locked horns with both countries at once — Here's Why
New Delhi: In a major development, Pakistan's ally Azerbaijan has issued a warning to both Israel and Iran regarding the use of its airspace. According to the reports, Azerbaijan has cautioned that its territory must not be used in any way for attacks on a third party. Azerbaijan, on Saturday, assured neighboring Iran that it would not allow its territory to be used for attacks against Tehran. This comes after Israel launched deadly airstrikes on Iranian bases. Iran has long expressed concerns that Israel might use Azerbaijani land to carry out attacks. It is important to note that Israel is a close ally of Azerbaijan and a major arms supplier to the country.
Azerbaijan's Foreign Minister Jeyhun Bayramov told his Iranian counterpart Abbas Araghchi, 'Azerbaijan will never allow its territory to be used for attacks against third countries, including friendly Iran.'
According to Azerbaijan's Foreign Ministry press service, Bayramov, during a phone call with Araghchi, warned that 'there is a risk of the conflict expanding to a broader region' and called for 'diplomatic efforts to prevent further escalation.'
The ministry also stated that Azerbaijan had facilitated overland transit across its borders after Iran closed its airspace in response to Israeli attacks. Azerbaijan-Israel Relation:
Based on shared interests and extensive military cooperation, Israel and Azerbaijan have maintained strategic relations for decades. It is important to note that Azerbaijan is a major supplier of oil to Israel, while it acquires advanced Israeli weapons—drones, air defense systems, and cutting-edge defense technologies.
Relations deepened further after the 2020 Nagorno-Karabakh war, during which Israeli weapons played a decisive role in Azerbaijan's battlefield success. Both countries also share concerns over Iran's regional ambitions and its nuclear program. Azerbaijan is a neighbor of Iran:
Azerbaijan shares a long border with Iran. It also hosts a significant ethnic Azerbaijani population within Iran's borders. Not only that, tensions between Azerbaijan and Iran also exist over Armenia. For the past few years, Azerbaijan has been trying to take control of the Zangezur Corridor, which lies within Armenian territory. Azerbaijan and Turkey support this corridor, while Armenia wants to retain its control over it.
