28-05-2025
Turkey, Pakistan, Azerbaijan…, this country deeply worried about Zangezur Corridor due to…, will India back its ally?
Pakistan's Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif on Tuesday met with Azerbaijan's President Ilham Aliyev and thanked him for supporting Pakistan against India. This meeting took place in Baku, Azerbaijan's capital. Sharif's visit was mainly to express gratitude because during India's anti-terror campaign called 'Operation Sindoor,' Azerbaijan had openly supported Pakistan right after Turkey and China did the same.
While this was happening, something important but less noticed took place in India. Last week, the Secretary of Armenia's Security Council quietly visited Delhi and met India's National Security Advisor Ajit Doval. Their talks included discussions about Operation Sindoor, but there was another key concern during the visit i.e. the Zangezur Corridor.
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The Zangezur Corridor is a strategic region that could impact several countries. Experts say that by backing Armenia here, India could make things difficult for all three, Turkey, Azerbaijan, and Pakistan all at once. That's because Pakistan and Turkey openly support Azerbaijan in its conflict with Armenia, while India has always stood by Armenia.
Also, during times of tension between India and Pakistan, Iran (after Saudi Arabia) has tried to play peacemaker. In fact, Iran's Foreign Minister visited Delhi during Operation Sindoor too.
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So now, analysts believe it's the right time for India, Iran, and Armenia to work more closely together. If India strongly backs Armenia over the Zangezur Corridor, it could block Azerbaijan's land access to Europe, dealing a major blow to the Turkey-Azerbaijan-Pakistan alliance.
What is the Zangezur Corridor Dispute?
The Zangezur Corridor is a proposed transport route that Azerbaijan strongly wants to build. Its goal is to connect mainland Azerbaijan to a small, separated region called Nakhchivan Autonomous Republic — which is also a part of Azerbaijan but not physically linked to the rest of the country.
Why is it controversial?
To make this corridor, the road and railway would need to pass through Armenia's Syunik Province, which is not just any region as it is the only land route that connects Armenia to Iran. So, building the corridor would have big strategic consequences.
If completed, this route would also give Azerbaijan and Turkey direct land access to each other — something they don't currently have. That's why Turkey fully supports the project.
In fact, Turkey's President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan has long dreamed of reconnecting Turkic and Islamic regions through land, and this corridor fits right into his vision. Many experts believe he sees this as part of a larger goal of restoring Turkish influence across Asia.
The 2020 conflict and its aftermath
Back in 2020, Azerbaijan and Armenia fought a war over the Nagorno-Karabakh region. Azerbaijan, with strong support from Turkey, won that war. As part of a Russia-brokered peace deal, Armenia had to agree to provide some form of access to Nakhchivan but the exact nature of that access is still unclear.
Since then, Azerbaijan has frequently pressured or threatened Armenia to allow the Zangezur Corridor, sometimes even suggesting they'll force it through military means.
Why does this matter to the world?
This isn't just a local issue between Armenia and Azerbaijan. The Zangezur Corridor could shift regional power balances:
It would weaken Armenia's control over its southern region.
It could cut off Armenia's access to Iran, one of its key allies.
It would strengthen the Turkey-Azerbaijan alliance — and their broader plans in the region.
In short, the Zangezur Corridor is not just about transportation it's about geopolitical control, influence, and future alliances in a very sensitive part of the world.
