Armenian aggression can turn into wider regional war

Shamim Mehmood

Islamabad: On Friday, October, 02, the Foreign Office (FO) rejected media reports claiming that Pakistan Army was fighting alongside the Azerbaijani forces against Armenia over the Nagorno-Karabakh. But I believe that the people of Pakistan are fighting alongside the Azerbaijani forces against the Armenian forces in mind and spirit ever since the issue emerged. This is the second time that the foreign office has expressed Pakistan's concern over the deteriorating security situation in Nagorno-Karabakh region since the issue flared up once again last month.

In the recent statement, the spokesman Zahid Hafeez Chaudhry said that the intensive shelling by Armenian forces on civilian population of Azerbaijan is reprehensible and most unfortunate. The situation could compromise peace and security of the entire region. He stressed that Armenia must stop its military action to avoid further escalation. Chaudhary said that Pakistan supports Azerbaijan’s position on Nogorno-Karabakh, in line with the several unanimously-adopted United Nations Security Council resolutions.

Pakistan's support to Azerbaijan's principled stand is the reason that Pakistan does not recognise Armenia which came into being nearly three decades ago. Azerbaijan is one of Pakistan’s closest allies among the former Soviet states. The present ambassador of Azerbaijan in Islamabad, H E Ali Alizada, though on his first posting as ambassador, has been very active since appointment. Ambassador Alizada has developed extensive interaction with the government as well as the people of Pakistan across the country.

Back ground:

The current escalation is reported to have begun on September 27, when after Armenian next provocation Azerbaijan started a counter-offensive measures to protect its citizens and reclaimed some territories occupied by separatist Armenians.  An operation by the Azerbaijani army was to clear the territories occupied by their enemy for almost 30 years continue.

The current conflict is getting international attention due to the involvement of the regional and international rivals. Turkey extends unconditional support to the Azerbaijan and condemns the Armenia for not resolving the issue through peaceful negotiations. Pakistan has termed the media reports claiming that Pakistan Army is fighting alongside the Azeri forces as speculative, baseless and irresponsible.But similarities between Pakistan and Azerbaijan are striking. The two countries share history and similar cultural, religious and geopolitical outlooks. 

The region is an important transit route for the supply of oil and natural gas to the EU countries. However, rest of the world has so far limited their intervention to appeals for peace.

As for now, both sides are standing their ground. President Ilham Aliyev said that Armenia must leave Nagorno-Karabakh unconditionally. On their part, the Armenians have lodged a request with the European Court of Human Rights (ECHR) for interim measures against Azerbaijan, which turned against them.