“Three Countries , One Nation” – First Azerbaijan-Pakistan-Turkiye Summit in Astana – Opinion by Tazeen Akhtar

Tazeen Akhtar

First Azerbaijan-Pakistan-Turkiye Trilateral format is poised to move forward to a significant block of common interests with complete trust between the member states and shared stand on regional and international issues. Both are the basis for a strong partnership and cooperation that can first change the destiny of the members and further pave the way for the well being of the people of the neighboring states and the regions.

Earlier in 60s , Iran-Pakistan-Turkiye established a trilateral format named Regional Cooperation for Development (RCD). The connectivity that is the main agenda item at international forums was the key element of RCD under which a road was constructed to connect Pakistan with Turkiye through Iran. When Central Asian Republics secured their freedom in 1991, the RCD was expanded taking CARs on board with a new title Economic Cooperation Organization.

This history of success of RCD to ECO gives rise to the prospects of success of Azer-Pak-Turk format as well into a more inclusive and exclusive forum for cooperation among regional states. There is only one difference between RCD and Azer-Pak-Turk that the later are not geographically adjacent/attached. It is true that borders are not combined but the bigger thing is heart beat together. The pain of one country is felt by the other and that is the strongest connection and attachment.

In this background, it was heartening for the people of three countries to see the first session of Trilateral Summit on the sidelines of Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) Summit in Astana, Kazakhstan on 03 July 2024. Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan and President . Ilham Heydar Aliyev sat together and discussed the way forward.

First Pakistan-Turkiye-Azerbaijan Trilateral Summit on the sidelines of (SCO) in Astana

Definitely, there is huge potential to elevate the tripartite cooperation into a strong multifaceted partnership across all areas of mutual interest including trade, economic, energy, agriculture, education, parliamentary ties, tourism, cultural, educational, technology and innovation, healthcare, environmental cooperation and defense, defense production, defense training.

Pakistan deeply values its fraternal ties with Azerbaijan and Turkiye which are grounded in deep rooted cultural, historic and religious bonds as well as mutual respect and support towards each other on core issues.The three states have excellent trilateral cooperation in political, parliamentary and defense domains.

First Trilateral Meeting of Foreign Ministers of the three countries was the first move forward that was held in Baku in Nov 2017. FM Azerbaijan, Mr. Elmar Mammadyarov hosted a trilateral meeting with Mr. Mevlüt Çavuşoğlu of Türkiye and Khawaja Asif of Pakistan. It was only almost a year after Azerbaijan’s historic victory in the Second Karabakh War Sep-Nov 2020. Pakistan and Turkiye supported Azerbaijan in this war that liberated Azerbaijani territories from illegal occupation of Armenia. The members have previously held trilateral consultations at the level of Speakers of Parliaments and Defense Personnel as well.

The Summit discussed the importance of the exercises of the special forces of the three countries held under the “Three Brothers” motto in 2021 and suggested conducting joint exercises on a regular basis. The sides discussed the possibilities of organizing joint production by the three countries.

Three Brothers – 2021 joint training of Azerbaijani, Turkish and Pakistani special forces

In the Summit, PM Shehbaz affirmed Pakistan’s commitment to working together and proposed to establish tripartite institutional mechanisms particularly in economic and investment areas. He also outlined significant potential for collaboration in the areas of culture, tourism, academia as well as science and technology.

President Recep Tayyip Erdogan emphasised the numerous joint steps which he said would benefit all three nations. He highlighted that in a region plagued by wars, conflicts, and tensions, such collaborations would also contribute to regional and global peace.

President Ilham Aliyev invited President Recep Tayyip Erdogan and Prime Minister Shahbaz Sharif to participate in COP29 again that both accepted with pleasure.

Pakistan’s participation in the Middle Corridor was mentioned and it was noted that it would contribute to the promotion of economic and trade relations between the countries involved.This corridor, which passes through Azerbaijan and Türkiye, offers a strategic route connecting Asia and Europe.

” Three Brothers – 2021″ Military Exercise is Manifestation of Strong Brotherly Bond between Azerbaijan, Pakistan, Turkey; Khazar Farhadov

Azerbaijan’s trade with Pakistan was 28 million USD in 2022, while Türkiye’s trade with Pakistan was 1.3 billion USD. The leaders agree that the potential is not that low and more avenues should be explored and matured to benefit from one another. Pakistan Azerbaijan are about to finalize the Preferential Trade Agreement soon. President Ilham Aliyev in his recent visit to Pakistan pledged 2 billion USD initial investment in Pakistan.

On political and strategic front , the declaration of the three parliamentary speakers after their first meeting in Baku was the first milestone achieved. They vowed to build lasting tripartite cooperation between their parliaments and was more explicit than the earlier trilateral declaration of the foreign ministers (2017) in its support of the territorial integrity of the three countries.

The declaration expressed support to Azerbaijan in its efforts to rebuild and rehabilitate the liberated Karabakh territories; to Pakistan in its conflict over Jammu and Kashmir, calling for a resolution in accordance with the respective United Nations Security Council resolutions; and to Türkiye in the settlement of the disputes in Cyprus, the Aegean and the Eastern Mediterranean, on the basis of international law.

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