At the recent Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) summit, India blocked Azerbaijan’s bid to join the organisation, a move that sparked considerable debate in regional and international circles. Many observers saw this decision as a reflection of New Delhi’s complex geopolitical calculations and its growing alignment with Armenia, as well as its longstanding rivalry with Pakistan. To better understand the motivations behind India’s actions and their implications for both Azerbaijan–India relations and the broader dynamics within the SCO, News.Az spoke with Dr. Shoaib Khan of the Centre for Central Eurasian Studies, University of Mumbai, who shared his insights on this development and its potential consequences.