Explainer: From Kashmir To Karabakh – Why Turkey & Azerbaijan Always Stand Against India; How Supporting Pakistan Is Hurting Them | World News

Türkiye-Azerbaijan-India Relations: In recent months, geopolitical tensions have flared between India on one side and Turkey and Azerbaijan on the other. This hostility is fueled by a complex mix of historical alliances, regional ambitions, and recent geopolitical realignments. While economic ties with India are not insignificant, both Türkiye and Azerbaijan are increasingly positioning themselves in ways that run counter to New Delhi’s strategic interests.

Türkiye’s support for Pakistan has increased especially since India’s Operation Sindoor. When India destroyed nine terror targets in Pakistan and Pakistan-administered Kashmir in early May following a deadly terror attack on tourists in Pahalgam in Jammu and Kashmir, Ankara condemned the attacks and warned of the risk of all-out war. In a telephone conversation, Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan expressed solidarity with Pakistani Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, praised Islamabad’s “calm and measured response” and offered diplomatic assistance.

On the other hand, India’s Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) called on Ankara to stop its support for cross-border terrorism and take “credible and verifiable actions” against the terror ecosystem it is accused of harboring.

Türkiye-Pakistan ‘Islamic Solidarity’

Türkiye has historical and ideological ties with Pakistan. Ankara has consistently supported Islamabad on the Kashmir issue, reflecting Islamic solidarity and positioning itself as a vocal defender of Muslim-majority nations. This ideological closeness has turned into a strong military cooperation. Türkiye provides Pakistan with unmanned aerial vehicles, including Asisguard and Songar models.

Citing serious violations of sovereignty, India claims that between 300 and 400 Turkish-made unmanned aerial vehicles were used by Pakistan in cross-border infiltration attempts and attacks on military facilities on May 8-9. Additionally, Indian forces’ capture of a Turkish kamikaze drone at Naushera in Jammu and Kashmir has raised alarm over foreign-made combat equipment being used in frontline fighting.

This deepening Türkiye-Pakistan bond is defined not only as a friendship but also as a strategic bloc that actively counters Indian influence. When Pakistan and Türkiye want to challenge India diplomatically or militarily, they do so together, making New Delhi’s security calculus more complex.

Türkiye’s Ally, Weight Against India

Azerbaijan also strongly sided with Pakistan by condemning India’s military attack. Baku issued a statement clearly opposing New Delhi’s actions and calling for restraint and a diplomatic solution.

Behind this diplomacy is a deeper strategic alliance. Türkiye and Azerbaijan formalized a close defense and economic partnership through the 2021 Shusha Declaration, which includes joint arms production, military exercises, and the transformation of Azerbaijan into a regional defense production hub.

The declaration also emphasizes infrastructure cooperation, especially through the “Central Corridor” connecting Central Asia, Azerbaijan and Türkiye and strengthening long-term geopolitical and economic ties.

Azerbaijan’s hostility towards India stems in part from its own geopolitical fault lines. One of the important issues is Armenia. India has developed defense ties with Armenia by providing weapon systems such as the Akash surface-to-air missile. New Delhi’s friendship with Yerevan irritates Baku as Armenia is in a territorial dispute with Azerbaijan over Nagorno-Karabakh.

Three Brothers Alliance

Türkiye, Azerbaijan and Pakistan now operate within a loose tripartite framework sometimes referred to as the “Three Brothers” alliance. They hold joint military exercises, support each other in international forums, and support each other’s territorial or ideological claims, such as Kashmir for Pakistan and certain regional ambitions for Turkey and Azerbaijan.

This alliance is not only symbolic but also directly challenges India’s strategic choices.

Latest Developments Strengthening Rift

The consequences for India are tangible. The diplomatic fallout triggered a strong public backlash: many Indian travelers canceled their trips to Türkiye and Azerbaijan, and calls for a boycott increased, especially following support for Pakistan in the wake of Operation Sindoor.

On the trade front, New Delhi revoked the security clearance of Turkish ground handling company Çelebi Airport Services, citing national security concerns linked to Türkiye’s military cooperation with Pakistan.

India has also signaled its disapproval through multilateral platforms. It was stated that bilateral relations with Turkey should respect each other’s “fundamental concerns”, given Ankara’s close defense ties with Islamabad.

Azerbaijan, meanwhile, accused India of blocking its bid for full membership in the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) and framed New Delhi’s move as retaliation for Baku’s support for Pakistan.

Strategic Commands and the Game of Power

Türkiye’s alliance with Pakistan and Azerbaijan helps it rebuild its influence in the Muslim world and defend itself against both Western powers and regional rivals. For Azerbaijan, supporting Pakistan and Türkiye serves to strengthen its regional alliances while also pushing back against India’s growing footprint in the South Caucasus through Armenia.

From India’s perspective, this bloc is a geopolitical challenge. New Delhi sees this tripartite alliance not just as ideological solidarity but also as a deliberate strategy to contain Indian influence in South Asia, the Caucasus and beyond.

Türkiye and Azerbaijan’s opposition to India is not just a matter of rhetoric. This has its roots in historical alliances, ideological alignment with Pakistan and geopolitical ambitions. These countries have institutionalized their cooperation through summits (such as the Three Brother Axis) and official declarations (the Shusha Declaration). Their joint stance has become more confrontational in light of recent tensions between India and Pakistan.

In response, India is recalibrating its own alliances by strengthening ties with Armenia and other regional powers, but tensions with the Türkiye-Azerbaijan axis remain a persistent and growing strategic fault line.