Azerbaijan President Ilham Aliyev claims India blocked SCO full membership bid for supporting Pakistan

Azerbaijan alleged that India blocked the country's bid for full membership of the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) to seek 'revenge' over Baku's close ties with Islamabad.

Azerbaijan President Ilham Aliyev made the remarks during a meeting with Pakistani Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif on the sidelines of the 25th Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) Council of Heads of State Summit in the northern Chinese city of Tianjin, Daily Sabah reported, quoting the Azerbaijani presidency.

According to reports, Sharif thanked the Azerbaijan leader for showing solidarity during the conflict between India and Pakistan in April-May.

Aliyev congratulated Pakistan on what he described as its victory over India and stressed that, despite New Delhi’s actions in international forums, Azerbaijan prioritizes "brotherhood” in its ties with Islamabad, reported the Turkish daily.

According to reports, the leaders discussed expanding trade and economic cooperation between the two nations.

The two countries have been cooperating in defence, trade and regional security in recent times.

Azerbaijan was one of the nations that openly supported Pakistan when India launched Operation Sindoor against terror bases in Pakistan and PoK on May 5.

The Indian government had launched the strike in response to the Pahalgam terror attack in April this year, which left 26 people, mostly tourists, killed.