BAKU — September 2, 2025,
Eldar Namazov, a former aide to President Heydar Aliyev and onetime acting secretary to Azerbaijan’s National Security Council, says India’s decision to block Azerbaijan’s accession to the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) “triggered an inevitable counter-move” by Pakistan to block Armenia—leaving both South Caucasus neighbors outside the bloc.
Speaking in a wide-ranging livestream to Novosti Kavkaza, Namazov argued that New Delhi acted alone against Baku’s bid even as “all other SCO members were ready to admit both Azerbaijan and Armenia.” In his telling, Islamabad then “balanced” the move by blocking Yerevan, while simultaneously signaling a thaw with Armenia by agreeing in Tianjin to establish diplomatic relations—“a step Pakistan took, he said, in consultation with Azerbaijan and in light of the Washington peace track.”
Key claims from Namazov’s remarks
Solo veto by India: Namazov says India was the only SCO member to oppose Azerbaijan’s entry—an action he called short-sighted and driven by “resentment” over Baku’s close ties with Pakistan.
Pakistan’s response: According to him, Pakistan predictably blocked Armenia’s bid “to restore parity,” even as Islamabad and Yerevan moved toward formal diplomatic ties during the summit week.
BRI language blocked: He added that India also opposed including support for China’s Belt and Road Initiative in the SCO’s closing text—“even while visiting China,” as he emphasized—because parts of BRI transit disputed areas under Pakistan’s control.
Not ready for ‘global leadership’: Namazov argued India’s behavior shows it is “not yet ready” to act as a responsible global power, characterizing its diplomacy as emotional and erratic.
On India’s society and image
Namazov used unusually sharp language about India, broadening his criticism from foreign policy to social issues. He alleged that widespread gender-based violence and public safety problems damage India’s international image and undermine its leadership claims. (These are his opinions; he did not present new data in the talk.)
Context he highlighted
SCO dynamics: In recent years the SCO has expanded (e.g., Iran, Belarus), while inviting more dialogue partners. Namazov’s view is that blocking either South Caucasus applicant runs counter to the organization’s own enlargement logic.
Azerbaijan–Armenia track: He framed Pakistan’s outreach to Armenia as consistent with the Washington peace understandings between Baku and Yerevan, arguing that the original cause of Islamabad’s non-recognition—Armenia’s occupation of Azerbaijani territories—has been removed.
Wider regional chessboard: He linked India’s SCO posture to its tense trade politics with the United States and rivalry with China, asserting that New Delhi may be “signaling” Washington by obstructing consensus inside the SCO—“a miscalculation,” in his words.
Who is Eldar Namazov?
Namazov served six years as an aide to President Heydar Aliyev, including performing the duties of secretary of the National Security Council. A veteran of Azerbaijan’s policy debates since the 1990s, he’s been a vocal critic of the now-defunct OSCE Minsk Group, which he welcomed being formally wound down this month.
Editor’s note: The statements above reflect Eldar Namazov’s views as expressed in the referenced conversation. Some assertions—especially those about India’s domestic situation—are opinions and were not accompanied by new evidence in the interview.
Source: Novosti Kavkaza (in Russian). Full video here
