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Azerbaijan’s President Ilham Aliyev has accused India of blocking Azerbaijan’s bid for full membership in the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO).Aliyev said that the reported blockade from New Delhi came as a response to Azerbaijan’s support for Pakistan during the clashes between India and Pakistan in May.Emphasising brotherly ties between Azerbaijan and Pakistan, Aliyev “noted that, in response to Azerbaijan’s support, India has attempted to retaliate against Azerbaijan in international organizations, but stressed that this holds no significance for Azerbaijan, as brotherly relations take precedence above all.”Earlier, local media reports claimed that New Delhi blocked Azerbaijan’s bid for full SCO membership.Meanwhile, Pakistan’s Foreign Minister Muhammad Ishaq Dar spoke by phone with his Armenian counterpart, Ararat Mirzoyan, earlier this week, during which the two agreed to explore the possibility of establishing diplomatic relations.Dar confirmed the conversation on his official X account. Pakistan had earlier suspended ties with Armenia following its occupation of Azerbaijani territories and consistently regarded Armenia as an aggressor, while also supporting UN Security Council resolutions affirming Azerbaijan’s territorial integrity. On the sidelines of the SCO meet, Aliyev also met with Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan. The leaders vowed continued growth of bilateral relations, emphasizing their “brotherly ties” and strategic partnership across sectors, including energy and transport.India’s trade and tourism ties with Turkey and Azerbaijan remain strained after both countries expressed support for Pakistan and criticised India’s recent strikes on terror camps in Pakistan and Pakistan-occupied Kashmir.Their stance has triggered nationwide calls in India to boycott goods from Turkey and Azerbaijan and to avoid travel to these countries.
