India, Iran, Armenia aim to balance Pakistan-Azerbaijan-Turkey axis

Yerevan (Armenia): The trilateral grouping of India, Iran and Armenia has the potential to balance the Pakistan-Azerbaijan-Turkey axis, which has gained momentum with several engagements between Islamabad and Baku this year.

The first India-Iran-Armenia trilateral aims to connect Armenia with India via Iran, ET has learnt.

During a meeting in the Armenian capital Yerevan this April, the three sides discussed economic projects and regional communication channels, outlined the prospects of deepening cultural and people-to-people contacts as well as trilateral cooperation in various fields.


The three countries had then decided to "continue consultations" in the format, sources recalled. The trilateral meeting also discussed the use of the International North-South Transport Corridor (INSTC) as a regional connectivity initiative.

Armenia, whose ties with New Delhi are acquiring strategic dimensions, has proposed the Persian Gulf-Black Sea corridor via Iran parallel to INSTC or part of a new branch of INSTC to connect Indian traders with Russia and Europe, sources said.

Given the extensive experience of Indian companies in taking part in large-scale infrastructure projects abroad and India's interest in launching the India-Europe transport corridor route via Iran and Georgia, Armenia plans to start negotiations with India to discuss the involvement of Indian funding and Indian companies into the project. Armenia has recorded strong economic growth notwithstanding the war in the region. It is no secret that Iran and Armenia share century-old ties including strong business and political contacts.

Pakistan, which is facing an energy crisis, is also expanding its energy ties with Azerbaijan, which is rich in oil and natural gas resources. In July, Azeri renewable energy minister visited Pakistan, according to informed sources. In June, the then Pakistani PM visited Baku and held high-level meetings there.

While Turkey and Azerbaijan share close political and military ties, Pakistan has been stepping up its engagement with Baku. This includes frequent exchange of high-level visits. The Azeri air chief this month visited Pakistan and witnessed the Indus Shield 2023 exercise there, while Pakistan’s foreign minister Jalil Abbas Jilani met his Azerbaijan counterpart on the sidelines of the Economic Cooperation Organization meeting. Last month, the Pakistan army chief visited Azerbaijan and had high-level meetings there. In May, Azeri chief of general staff visited Islamabad. This followed the Pakistan petroleum minister’s visit to Azerbaijan in February.