Baku Talks: Jaishankar and Aliyev Discuss Stronger India Ties

In Baku on Friday, External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar sat down with Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev to discuss various dimensions of strengthening bilateral relations between India and Azerbaijan.

Jaishankar later shared his impressions on X, writing that it was a pleasure to meet the Azerbaijani president in the morning. He added that he had conveyed the best wishes of President Droupadi Murmu and Prime Minister Narendra Modi. He noted that both sides had exchanged views on deepening ties and welcomed Azerbaijan's positive outlook on the joint effort.

The minister is also set to meet Azerbaijan's Foreign Minister during his stay. Both sides are expected to assess the state of India-Azerbaijan relations and consider new openings for working together.

A related development came on October 16, when Indian Ambassador Abhay Kumar presented his letters of credence to President Aliyev. The ambassador expressed full dedication to enhancing the relationship between the two countries.

The Indian Embassy in Azerbaijan had earlier said on X that Ambassador Kumar pledged to boost cooperation and to deepen the friendly relations that have existed between the two peoples for a long time.

During the meeting, both sides stressed that India and Azerbaijan share ties rooted in history and culture that have grown over centuries. They said these connections continue to form a firm basis for relations today.

The discussions also covered possibilities for cooperation across a range of sectors, and both sides expressed interest in working jointly on shared priorities.

The meeting also recalled the encounter between Prime Minister Modi and President Aliyev in Bishkek. Ambassador Kumar and President Aliyev reaffirmed their commitment to taking bilateral ties further and exploring new ways to cooperate.

Both nations, they agreed, should build on their longstanding friendship, historical links and mutual understanding to expand collaboration into fresh areas.