On January 23, Major General Ilgar Latifov, Deputy Commander of the Land Forces of the Azerbaijan Army, held a meeting with a delegation led by Major General Abdullah Kashif, Director General of Military Operations for the Pakistan Armed Forces, according to the Azerbaijani Defense Ministry. Pakistan’s Major General Abdullah Kashif is currently on an official visit to Azerbaijan.
The meeting focused on the current state and future potential of military cooperation between Azerbaijan and Pakistan. Emphasis was placed on increasing the frequency of joint military exercises to promote the exchange of expertise and further develop the knowledge and skills of military personnel.
Key outcomes of the discussions included:
- Military Collaboration: Signing the “Instructions for Conducting Staff Talks” between the Land Forces of Azerbaijan and Pakistan to enhance coordination.
- Customs Cooperation: Plans to expedite the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) for establishing an Advanced Electronic Data Interchange between Azerbaijan’s State Customs Committee and Pakistan Customs Service.
- Defense Industry: Agreement to accelerate the signing of an MoU for joint production and sales of defense equipment.
- Energy Sector: Discussions on advancing the Strategic Underground Gas Storage (SUGS) project in Pakistan, along with inviting Azerbaijan to participate in energy infrastructure projects, such as the White Oil Pipeline.
Last year, Pakistan and Azerbaijan finalized a JF-17 fighter jet deal, highlighting their growing defense ties. Pakistan views Azerbaijan as a strategic ally, essential for countering Indian diplomatic activity in the South Caucasus.
The ongoing tensions in the South Caucasus have strengthened trilateral relations between Azerbaijan, Pakistan, and Türkiye. Azerbaijan has emerged as a central player in the critical energy transit corridor connecting the Black Sea, South Caucasus, and Europe. This also opens broader prospects for trans-regional energy cooperation with Indian subcontinent, particularly with Pakistan.