Pakistan has denied “baseless and unwarranted” allegations of its involvement in the ongoing Armenia-Azerbaijan conflict following a claim made by the Armenian prime minister insinuating that Pakistani troops were fighting alongside Azerbaijani troops.
On October 15 in an interview with Rossiya Segodnya, a Russian news agency, the Armenian PM Nikol Pashinyan referred to “unsubstantiated reports alleging involvement of Pakistani special forces alongside the Azerbaijani Army in the ongoing conflict,” Pakistan’s Foreign Ministry stated.
“We categorically reject these baseless and unwarranted comments by the Armenian Prime Minister,” read the statement.
In response to Armenia’s claims, President Ilham Aliyev of Azerbaijan has also clarified his stance on the matter stating that ‘Azerbaijani forces are strong enough to defend their homeland and do not need the help of foreign forces’.
The Foreign Office urged the leadership of Armenia to stop resorting to ‘irresponsible propaganda’ as a cover against its illegal actions against Azerbaijan.
The FO further clarified Pakistan’s stance amidst everything, assuring its diplomatic, moral and political support to Azerbaijan.
‘We believe that long-term peace and normalization of relations between the two parties would depend on the complete and comprehensive implementation of the UN Security Council resolutions and withdrawal of Armenian forces from Azerbaijani territories.’ the press release read.
On the same day, a truce, reached between the two countries, came into force at midnight after a week-old Russian-brokered ceasefire failed to stop the long running conflict.
However, earlier today Armenia and Azerbaijan accused each other of violating the new humanitarian ceasefire, moments after it was agreed to.
According to the Armenian defence ministry, the Azerbaijani army had fired twice during the night and used artillery.
The Azerbaijani defence ministry, on the other hand, said: “The enemy fired at the vicinity of the Jabrail city, as well as the villages of this region using mortars and artillery.” It added that the Azerbaijani army “took adequate retaliatory measures”.
Just within hours of the truce violation, Pakistan’s Prime Minister mentioned Azerbaijan’s President in a tweet, congratulating him on his country’s independence and assuring him of Pakistan’s solidarity.
‘I extend warmest felicitations to President Aliyev and fraternal people of Azerbaijan on their Independence Day. We pay tribute to Azeri forces valiantly defending their territorial integrity. Pakistan stands with Azerbaijan in its quest to resolve Nagorno-Karabakh issue as per UNSC resolutions’ said Imran Khan.
