Azerbaijan’s President Aliyev claimed that India blocked its bid for full membership in the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) due to Azerbaijan’s support for Pakistan amid rising tensions with India. This move has been framed as a violation of multilateral diplomacy, highlighting Azerbaijan’s growing strategic alliance with Islamabad, underscored by cooperative projects in defense and trade. India’s increasing outreach towards Armenia further complicates its relationship with Baku, signifying a broader polarisation in Asian geopolitics where the SCO may become a platform for India-Pakistan rivalry. This situation emphasizes the need for India to reinforce its diplomatic engagements to counter Azerbaijan’s alignment with Pakistan effectively.