NEW DELHI: India and Azerbaijan have initiated efforts to stabilise bilateral ties strained by recent geopolitical differences, holding high-level consultations in Baku amid lingering tensions over regional alignments.
Secretary (West) in the Ministry of External Affairs Sibi George met Azerbaijan's Foreign Minister Jeyhun Bayramov on Thursday, with both sides reviewing the relationship and exchanging views on regional and global issues.
The talks come in the backdrop of strains after Baku's support for Pakistan during Operation Sindoor, as well as differences over the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict, where Azerbaijan has perceived India to be closer to Armenia.
The 6th round of India-Azerbaijan Foreign Office Consultations was held in Baku, co-chaired by Sibi George and Azerbaijan’s Deputy Foreign Minister Elnur Mammadov. "They comprehensively reviewed the current state of bilateral relations covering areas of mutual interest," the MEA said.
Discussions spanned trade, technology, energy, pharmaceuticals, tourism, culture and people-to-people exchanges, along with cooperation in countering cross-border terrorism. In a statement, Azerbaijan also reflected underlying differences, noting that "positions were conveyed regarding matters on which the two countries hold differing views, and the importance of dialogue in this direction was emphasized".
Both sides agreed to continue engagement, with the next round of consultations to be held in New Delhi at a mutually convenient date, indicating a cautious effort to rebuild trust.