India, Azerbaijan Pledge Stronger Ties Amid Regional Tensions
Baku: Amid rising global and regional tensions, External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar on Friday said India and Azerbaijan have a shared stake in peace, progress and prosperity. He also named terrorism, conflict and instability as common threats to both countries.
Jaishankar made these remarks during a joint press statement in Baku with Azerbaijani Foreign Minister Jeyhun Bayramov. He welcomed the peace agreement between Azerbaijan and Armenia signed last August and expressed the hope that it would secure lasting peace in the region. He repeated that India believes disputes should be settled through dialogue and diplomacy.
He said India was monitoring regional developments carefully and, in the same breath, underlined its consistent preference for peaceful solutions.
The talks also covered the Middle East, West Asia, Europe and Eurasia, along with the global fallout from these crises. Jaishankar said the resulting pressures on food, fuel, fertilizer and finance had hit Global South economies hard.
Reform and expansion of international and regional organizations were also part of the conversation. According to Jaishankar, such institutions must be adapted to modern requirements to remain effective.
Jaishankar termed his discussions with Bayramov very useful and said they had helped define the direction for future ties. He extended an invitation for the Azerbaijani foreign minister to travel to India at an early and suitable date.
On the economic front, the two sides examined ways to strengthen cooperation in trade, investment and energy. Jaishankar stressed that the economies of both nations complement one another, offering considerable scope for raising bilateral trade and investment.
Connectivity was another major theme. Jaishankar referred to the International North-South Transport Corridor, which connects India and Azerbaijan and involves Iran in a key capacity. The two countries agreed to enhance coordination on the corridor. Air connectivity was discussed as well. He observed that flights between the two countries operate daily, yet further expansion of air links should be considered.
Jaishankar expressed gratitude to Azerbaijan for helping evacuate Indian citizens, particularly students, from Iran during the conflict earlier this year. He also thanked Azerbaijan for the care and sensitivity shown toward Indian students living there.