Operation Sindoor: Azerbaijan Backs Pakistan, Condemns Indian Strikes
In a notable diplomatic development, Azerbaijan has openly sided with Pakistan in the aftermath of India’s Operation Sindoor, which involved precision airstrikes on terror camps in Pakistan and Pakistan-occupied Kashmir. The strikes, conducted in response to the Pahalgam terror attack that killed 26 civilians, have drawn mixed international reactions — and Azerbaijan has now emerged as the first to explicitly condemn India’s actions.
In an official statement, Azerbaijan’s Foreign Ministry said, “We condemn military attacks against the Islamic Republic of Pakistan that killed and injured several civilians. Being in solidarity with the people of Pakistan, we express condolences to the families of the innocent victims and wish a speedy recovery to those who were injured. We call on all parties to exercise restraint and to resolve the conflict through diplomatic means.”
This position comes at a time when most global powers, including members of the UN Security Council, have urged de-escalation while refraining from overt criticism of India’s anti-terror operation. Azerbaijan’s reaction, however, marks a clear tilt towards Pakistan, invoking concerns about civilian casualties and emphasizing diplomatic solutions over military responses.
Implications for India-Azerbaijan Relations
Azerbaijan’s statement is expected to strain its diplomatic ties with India, which has maintained that Operation Sindoor was a legitimate, precise, and non-escalatory military response focused solely on terror infrastructure. India has also briefed the United Nations Security Council and other international partners, highlighting the operation’s targeting of camps used by groups such as Jaish-e-Mohammed and Lashkar-e-Taiba.
India has not yet issued a formal response to Azerbaijan’s remarks, but foreign policy observers note that such endorsements of Pakistan’s narrative could impact bilateral cooperation, especially in multilateral forums like the Non-Aligned Movement and the Organisation of Islamic Cooperation, where both countries are active.
A Broader Diplomatic Picture
Azerbaijan’s public support for Pakistan also underscores the growing geopolitical alignments within the Islamic world, where issues like Kashmir continue to shape diplomatic postures. The statement aligns Azerbaijan with Pakistan’s broader diplomatic narrative, particularly amid Islamabad’s ongoing efforts to internationalize the Kashmir dispute and portray India’s counter-terror actions as regional aggression.
As tensions remain high, the fallout from Operation Sindoor is beginning to reflect not just on the battlefield, but in international corridors of diplomacy, where allegiances are being watched closely by both New Delhi and Islamabad.
