"Today, the Azerbaijan-Turkey-Pakistan relations of friendship and cooperation are at the highest level and continue to thrive in all directions. Therefore, the "Three Brothers - 2021" joint international exercises, which began on September 12, 2021, and will last until September 20, are a significant historical event," MP Kamaladdin Gafarov told Report.
Saying that the joint exercises of the special forces of Azerbaijan, Turkey, and Pakistan are of great importance in terms of maintaining regional peace, the MP emphasized that these exercises also show that the relations between the three countries are based on mutual respect and trust: "With its historic victory, Azerbaijan restored its territorial integrity and created new geopolitical realities in the South Caucasus. One of the most critical points against the background of these realities was the formation of new political configurations. From this point of view, the Azerbaijan-Turkey-Pakistan relations are becoming an alliance that attracts the whole world's attention today.
Along with brotherly Turkey, our country's relations with Pakistan have always been in the spotlight. Like Turkey, which closed its borders with Armenia in order to retaliate against Armenia, which pursues a policy of aggression against Azerbaijan, Pakistan has taken a principled position on this issue since day one. As one of the first countries to recognize our country's independence and open an embassy in Azerbaijan, Pakistan has always supported our territorial integrity and refused diplomatic relations with Armenia in protest against its occupation. Pakistan has consistently defended the interests of Azerbaijan in all international organizations, unequivocally reacted to the Armenian aggression, and played a significant role together with Turkey in the adoption of the four UN Security Council resolutions in favor of Azerbaijan.
The "Three Brothers - 2021" international exercise, which is being held today with the participation of special forces of Azerbaijan, Turkey, and Pakistan, is an obvious example of friendship, brotherhood, and partnership in all areas among our countries and peoples. At the same time, the international exercises are also an indication of the transition to a new stage in the military-political relations between the three countries. Such exercises will further strengthen the strategic cooperation between Azerbaijan, Turkey, and Pakistan. This will serve the establishment of lasting peace, development, and security in the South Caucasus region."
According to Gafarov, one of the main factors ensuring the stability of relations between Azerbaijan, Turkey, and Pakistan is not only the interstate format but also the friendly relations between the peoples of the three countries: "The process of forming a new world order, which began in late 20th century, continues today. This global process is accompanied by the emergence of new centers of power and new alliances in the new world. Of course, as a leading state in the South Caucasus and one of the most important geostrategic regions of the Eurasian space, Azerbaijan cannot stay out of the processes. On the contrary, Azerbaijan, which restored its territorial integrity as a result of the Great Patriotic War, has demonstrated its active participation in forming a new world order. In particular, the Baku Declaration signed at the trilateral meeting of the Speakers of the Parliaments of Azerbaijan, Turkey, and Pakistan on July 27, 2021, is vital as an international legal document confirming that our country will continue to participate in these processes actively.
This point should also be emphasized that our country today is a strategically with Pakistan, a nuclear power, and Turkey, which has the largest NATO ground forces, certainly increases Azerbaijan's international prestige and makes it more influential in a broader geopolitical area. This should be unequivocally assessed as another celebration of the successful foreign policy pursued by the President of Azerbaijan, Ilham Aliyev. It shouldn't be forgotten that Azerbaijan has always supported Islamabad's position on the Kashmir issue and provided full support to Pakistan for its full participation in the projects in which our country participates.
On the other hand, the strength of relations between Azerbaijan, Turkey, and Pakistan is ensured not only by the interstate format but also by the friendly relations between the peoples of the three countries. On the occasion of Azerbaijan's victory in the Great Patriotic War, the peoples of these countries celebrated our victory with the same happiness and enthusiasm in the days when the flags of Pakistan and Turkey were proudly waved along with our sacred flag in our cities and villages. The close ties between our countries also open new and plenty of opportunities for cooperation. Undoubtedly, the "Three Brothers - 2021" international exercises will also serve to further strengthen the existing ties between our armies and increase our strength and capabilities in the fight against international terrorism."