The Islamic Republic of Pakistan was one of the first countries to recognize the independence of the Republic of Azerbaijan on December 12, 1991. The diplomatic relations between the two countries were established on June 9, 1992. The Embassy of the Islamic Republic of Pakistan to Azerbaijan was opened on March 12, 1993. The Embassy of the Republic of Azerbaijan to Pakistan was opened on August 24, 1997. The Ambassador of the Republic of Azerbaijan to the Islamic Republic of Pakistan is Khazar Farhadov.
The President of Azerbaijan, H.E. Iham Aliyev, concluded his two-day visit to Pakistan on July 12, 2024. During the visit, he held meetings with President Asif Ali Zardari and Prime Minister Muhammad Shehbaz Sharif. The two sides exchanged views on a range of areas of mutual interest, committing to enhance cooperation across the broad spectrum of bilateral relations. Additionally, Pakistan and Azerbaijan signed 15 MOUs and agreements. These MOUs/ agreements aim to enhance cooperation in trade, commerce, tourism, minerals, science and technology, law, justice, and cultural exchanges.
Pakistan-Azerbaijan Political Interdependence; A Liberal Perspective
The bilateral relationship between Pakistan and Azerbaijan has seen considerable growth in recent years, characterized by shared political values, diplomatic solidarity, cultural affinity, and mutual support on international platforms. Liberalism in international relations theory provides a strong framework to understand this partnership, highlighting the importance of cooperation, shared norms, institutions, and non-coercive diplomacy in shaping state behavior.
In 1995, the President of Pakistan, Sardar Farooq Ahmed Khan Leghari official visited Azerbaijan. President Heydar Aliyev reciprocated the gesture in 1996, with an official visit to Pakistan. Likewise, in 1995 the protocol for the establishment of the ‘Azerbaijan-Pakistan Joint Commission at the Ministerial Level’ was signed to be an institutional mechanism for the development of bilateral economic ties. Besides this, Pakistan has a strong commitment to non-aggression and the principle of preserving the territorial integrity of sovereign states, Pakistan jointly with Turkiye were the two co-sponsors of the United Nations Security Council (UNSC) for resolution 822 against the Armenian occupying forces’ violation of all hostilities in Karabakh region of Azerbaijan. Azerbaijan, as a member of the OIC Contact Group on Jammu and Kashmir, has been contributing to a peaceful solution of the Jammu and Kashmir dispute.
Pakistan supports Azerbaijan’s position on Nagorno-Karabakh and was one of the few countries to openly endorse Azerbaijan’s military campaign in 2020. Azerbaijan also extends its support to Pakistan in the issue of Jammu and Kashmir; it also uses the opportunity to address the matter at international forums like OIC and UN.
“Pakistan strongly supports Azerbaijan’s position on Nagorno-Karabakh and reaffirms its commitment to Azerbaijan’s territorial integrity.”
(Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Pakistan, 2020)
This mutual diplomatic support is an exemplification of the liberal order’s concept of norm-based cooperation, where shared identity, political alignment, and peaceful engagement define bilateral relations.
Economic Interdependence:
Liberalism believes that economic interdependence is key to fostering peace. Both have sought mutual economic collaboration, particularly in the energy sector-Azerbaijan, which has the oil and gas. These trading and cooperative partnerships through pipeline projects and regional connections could, therefore, be viewed as liberal tools for reducing conflict and enhancing mutual gains. Azerbaijan, a state-owned oil company known as SOCAR, has finalized an agreement for exports with Pakistan LNG Limited, which includes supply contracts for liquefied natural gas (LNG) and oil. Azerbaijan agreed to provide discounted LNG shipments in 2023, strengthening interdependence and reinforcing the liberal idea of absolute economic gains.
Pakistan and Azerbaijan are both emerging economies, seeking to enhance their economic capacity and form versatile multi-sectoral partnerships. In 2023, Azerbaijan’s GDP stood at $72.36 billion and Pakistan’s at $338.37 million, depicting a massive potential of growth for both sides.6 The two countries have also been connected via the ancient Silk Route and the remnants of this are illustrated by the 14th century ‘Multan Caravanserai’ in Baku. The commitment of both Pakistan and Azerbaijan for collective development and expansion of cooperation across regions is depicted by the Pakistan-Turkiye-Azerbaijan trilateral mechanism, which recently held its summit meeting in Astana on 3 July 2024. While deciding to further enhance bilateral trade, the two sides discussed a series of joint projects worth $2 billion, aiming to transform the relationship into an ‘economic partnership. (Institute of Strategic Studies Islamabad)
Cultural and Ideological Similarities:
Pakistan and Azerbaijan share a strong Muslim identity, which fosters a sense of shared values and cultural ties. These common ideologies create a foundation for collaboration based on mutual understanding and respect for each other’s independence, a key belief of liberalism.
Educational and Cultural Exchange initiatives include: Student exchange programs and Cultural exhibitions and common film festivals. The Azerbaijan Trade House facilitates access to scholarship opportunities for Pakistani students who hope to study in Azerbaijan. These programs cover a mixture of disciplines, including Engineering, Medicine, Business Administration, Arts and Humanities. Through its educational initiatives, the Azerbaijan Trade House is building a stronger foundation for bilateral affairs. The Azerbaijan Language and Culture Center at NUML fosters academic ties and cultural indulgent between Pakistan and Azerbaijan. The concept of academic partnership finds deep application in growing bilateral relations between Islamabad and Baku. The leading state authorities of both states are convinced of the importance of productive academic interaction, which could serve their shared goals in the diplomatic, political, economic, and social domains. By creating opportunities for learning and knowledge exchange aiming to encourage the next generation of leaders and innovators in both Azerbaijan and Pakistan. The MoUs signed for collaboration in these sectors force support cultural exchange and educational partnership, more increase people-to-people ties between the two nations. As both Pakistan and Azerbaijan possess rich cultural histories and attractive landscapes, these agreements will make possible improved tourism and academic association, creating new opportunities for students, professionals, and investors alike.
Science and Technology:
In terms of Information and Communication Technologies (ICT), Azerbaijan’s marketplace has seen exponential enlargement, with the government prioritizing the advancement across the region of the digital economy. The ICT sector of Azerbaijan has witnessed a 13.2 % growth and accounted for 3.2 % of the country’s GDP in 2021.
Furthermore, the government of Azerbaijan has been working on the achievement of different initiatives, notably the ‘Azerbaijan 2030: National Priorities for Socio-Economic Development policy, which underscores the country’s assurance to alter into an international leader in digital technologies. Pakistan, too, has been focusing on the strong growth of the ICT sector, witnessing the emergence of a large pool of IT professionals and a strong IT sector introduce ecosystem. Pakistan’s ICT exports grew to $2.1 billion, contributing 4.8% of the country’s GDP depicting a 47% increase from the previous year.
Consequently, the recent MoU signed between the Ministry of Digital Development and transportation of Azerbaijan and the Ministry of Information Technology and Telecommunication of Pakistan emphasizes the collective commitment to expand cooperation in the field of ICT. Additionally, Pakistan’s First Green Technology Hub (G-TH) Startup Competition was Held at COP29 Baku, Azerbaijan. According to the Ignite, National Technology Fund, the launch of Pakistan’s Green Technology Hub (G-TH) is revolutionary initiatives that highlight the nation’s pledge to sustainability and improvement. G-TH fosters green entrepreneurship, climate-smart solutions, and capacity-building to advance economic growth, job creation, and environmental sectors.
Legal Affairs:
Different Legal agreements & MoUs have signed over the years, both countries have signed various bilateral agreements and Memorandums of Understanding (MoUs) covering sectors like: Trade and commerce, Judicial cooperation, cultural exchange, military collaboration, avoidance of double taxation, and mutual legal assistance in criminal matters. Both countries are working on mutual assistance frameworks for combating transnational crimes including terrorism, money laundering, and drug trafficking through different treaties such as Mutual Legal Assistance Treaties (MLATs). Moreover, The Supreme Court of Pakistan and Ministry of Justice of Azerbaijan have discussed judicial cooperation and training programs for judges and legal officers. Delegations have visited each other’s countries to understand legal reforms and case management systems.
Recommendations:
To further grow deeper bilateral cooperation and maximize the benefits of upward ties, it is necessary to support institutional frameworks to make sure the efficient and sensible accomplishment of agreements and Memorandums of Understanding (MoUs). This should be complemented by fostering robust public-private partnerships, which can play a fundamental role in optimizing the economic gains from Azerbaijan’s proposed $2 billion investment in Pakistan. In equivalent, both countries must work towards developing broad and forward-looking trade strategies that capitalize on the increasing trade quantity and address structural barriers. Enhancing logistics and infrastructure is equally serious to assist trade and efficient energy transport across borders. Additionally, the approval of investment–friendly policies, including regulatory reforms and incentives, will help attract further foreign direct investment (FDI) and inspire economic growth. Lastly, Pakistan should leverage Azerbaijan’s expertise in the energy sector to promote and modernize its oil and gas communications, in that way enhancing domestic energy security and fostering long-term industrial development.
Conclusion:
By analyzing Pakistan-Azerbaijan relations through the liberal lens reveals a partnership shaped by cooperation, shared identity, institutional engagement, and peaceful diplomacy. In conclusion, it can be stated that Pakistan and Azerbaijan’s friendly bilateral relations between Pakistan and Azerbaijan are transforming into a full-scale partnership, spreading across multiple sectors. Such a partnership underscores the commitment of the leadership of both sides to promote a bilateral relationship. Moreover, the two countries have committed to expanding cooperation into areas of tourism, precious mineral extraction, and cultural exchanges, aiming to promote bilateral development, which also creates a positive impact across regions.
In my view, Pakistan-Azerbaijan relations are an example of a live liberal theory in practice, as they are on cooperation, mutual respect, institutional engagement, and economic interdependence. Both countries have moved even further than traditional diplomacy and are currently building a multi-dimensional partnership that includes most sectors from trade and legal affairs to education and digital innovation. The continued success of this bilateral relationship will depend on maintaining open channels of dialogue, fostering institutional resilience, and investing in human capital and technological cooperation. As global challenges become more complex, Pakistan and Azerbaijan must keep reinforcing this liberal path of mutual benefit and peaceful coexistence.
“Economic growth and energy security are essential pillars for national prosperity.”
(– John F. Kennedy)
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