Jaishankar Visits Azerbaijan to Ease Strain in Ties Over Operation Sindoor, Pg8

Key Highlights:

• External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar visited Baku, Azerbaijan, on October 23, 2026, to improve strained bilateral relations.
• Ties had deteriorated after Azerbaijan condemned India's Operation Sindoor in May 2025, an Indian military action against Pakistan-based terror targets.
• Azerbaijan has also consistently called for a "resolution" of the Kashmir issue at international forums.
• The visit aimed to deepen political consultations, enhance economic activities, build connectivity, and foster people-to-people ties.
• India expressed support for the peace process between Azerbaijan and Armenia.

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Detailed Insights:

• Operation Sindoor was initiated by India on May 7, 2025, in response to the Pahalgam terror attack in Jammu and Kashmir on April 22, 2025, which resulted in 26 civilian deaths.
• The operation involved missile and air strikes targeting terror infrastructure of groups like Jaish-e-Mohammed and Lashkar-e-Taiba in Pakistan and Pakistan-administered Kashmir.
• Azerbaijan's Foreign Ministry condemned these strikes on May 7, 2025, citing concerns over civilian casualties.
• Azerbaijan has historically supported Pakistan's stance on the Kashmir issue, advocating for its resolution based on UN Security Council resolutions.
• India and Azerbaijan share historical and cultural ties, including ancient Silk Route connections, and established diplomatic relations in 1992.
• Bilateral trade between the two nations reached USD 1.435 billion in 2023, with India being a significant importer of Azerbaijani crude oil and a major source of tourists.
• The visit is viewed as a "diplomatic reset" by India, aiming to exert influence and potentially counter the regional alignment of Turkey and Pakistan.
• India's endorsement of the Azerbaijan-Armenia peace process aligns with its foreign policy principle of resolving international disputes through dialogue and diplomacy.

Key Concepts Involved:

• Operation Sindoor: An Indian military operation launched in May 2025 against Pakistan-based terror targets following a terror attack in Kashmir.
• Diplomatic Reset: The process of re-establishing and improving strained diplomatic relations between countries.
• Non-Aligned Movement (NAM): A forum of 120 countries not formally aligned with any major power bloc, promoting the interests of developing nations.