Opinion | Pakistan First? Then Azerbaijan Should Stop Complaining About Indi
Azerbaijan has accused India of blocking its bid to join the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO). Azeri and Turkish media report that President Ilham Aliyev has claimed that New Delhi is seeking “revenge” against Baku on global fora. Reports say he made the remarks during a meeting with his Pakistani counterpart on the sidelines of the SCO Summit on Monday. He also hailed Islamabad for its “victory over India” and reiterated support for the country.
A Myopic Policy
Azeri analysts and strategic thinkers say India is following a “myopic” policy that is shorn of strategic foresight, for short-term gains. But, has India indeed blocked Azerbaijan’s entry into the Eurasian bloc? So far, there has been no response from the Ministry of External Affairs. However, such a move, if true, should not come as a surprise. In fact, Azeri analysts have suggested that another member of the SCO – Russia – may also have approved of it. For, Baku has managed to roil both Moscow and Iran – also a powerful SCO member – in recent times.
