Renewed aggression against Azerbaijan

PAKISTAN on Sunday expressed “deep concern” on the deteriorating security situation in Nagorno-Karabakh region after Armenian forces’ intensive shelling over the weekend on the civilian population of Azerbaijan. In a statement, Foreign Office spokesperson said intensive shelling by Armenian forces over the weekend on civilian population of Azerbaijani villages of Terter, Aghdam, Fizuli and Jabrayil is reprehensible and most unfortunate and that Armenia must stop its military action to avoid further escalation.
Though armed forces of Azerbaijan have demonstrated effectively their capability to defend the motherland as they launched a counter-offensive along the entire front and destroyed anti-aircraft missile systems and other equipment of Armenian armed units but the world community needs to take urgent measures to prevent further escalation of the conflict that threatens regional peace. The situation is particularly worrisome as Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan threatened that the South Caucasus was on the brink of a full-scale war. Nagorno-Karabakh is internationally considered as part of Azerbaijan but Armenia is making false claims only because the territory is accessible only through Armenia. As the crisis is simmering since decades and has led to loss of precious lives and displacement of thousands of people, the world community must act decisively to help settle the dispute through dialogue. It may also be noted that despite willingness of Azerbaijan to resolve the issue peacefully, Armenia is repeatedly engaged in violation of the ceasefire of 1994. Azerbaijan has a principled stand on the issue as it is a question of its territorial integrity especially in the backdrop of occupation of seven Azeri districts around Nagorno-Karabakh region. It is unfortunate that the international community did not react seriously despite warnings last week by President Aliyev that Armenia was massing forces near Nagorno-Karabakh for a new war. As the dispute could lead to catastrophic consequences, UN ought to take notice of the situation and immediate efforts should be made for revival of the stalled peace process initiated by the Minsk Group of the Organisation for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE).