In a major development, Armenia has said that it “cannot exclude the possibility” of Pakistani fighters fighting on the ground together with “mercenaries operating in Azerbaijan”.
Armenian Deputy Foreign Minister Avet Adonts, speaking to Zee News from Yerevan, said: “It will not be a surprise to us,” recalling how in the 1990s Pakistani citizens were present when the war broke out in Nagorno Karabakh. He also criticized Turkey for sending jihadists to Azerbaijan, explaining that “this imposed or instigated war” has been “well planned in conjunction with Turkey.”
Clashes between Armenia and Azerbaijan in recent days in the Nagorno Karabakh region have left several dead and fears of a spill in the region.
Question: What is the current situation in Armenia-Azerbaijan?
Avet Adonts: The Turkish-backed dictatorship of Azerbaijan instigated a full-scale war. There is a full-scale war going on on the ground. On September 27, early in the morning between 6 and 7 a.m., they: Azerbaijan with its military instruments, planes, heavy artillery, tanks, all the supplies possible to start a massive attack towards Nagorno-Karabakh along along the entire line of contact between Nagorno-Karabakh. and Azerbaijan, targeting the civilian population, the capital of the area and many victims. The defense forces of Nagorno Karabakh have reacted defensively, but selectively but defensively to the aggression of the Azeri military forces together with the Turks. The military operation, defensive operations of Nagorno-Karabakh is providing security to its population, it is about 150,000 people of Armenian origin who used to live there. It is a full-scale war between Nagorno-Karabakh and Azerbaijan backed by Turkey. They are expanding the geography of this war, they are also getting closer to the Armenians, taking into account that in Armenian territory, the Armenian plane crashed days ago. We have witnessed the drones of Azerbaijan together with the capital of Armenia. They were taken down, but it is another attempt to provoke another escalation.
Question: What kind of global support are you receiving?
Avet Adonts: The international community is well aware that this imposed or instigated war has been well planned together with Turkey. The situation needs a reduction, it is very obvious. The entire international community, with its leaders, is calling for the situation to be alleviated. To stop the military operation, but the destination of all these urgent calls is Azerbaijan and Turkey. Why do I say Turkey, because Turkey is heavily involved in the military operation started by Azerbaijan. It is a new component of part of the political map, they are practically there – helping not only politically, supporting the country also politically in a very practical way, the military presence, the weapons system, starting with the planes, ending with the drones and personnel. military.
Question: Turkey’s role in the situation? Are you sending jihadists?
Avet Adonts: This is not a question, many people and media are asking this question. It’s very obvious. Not just jihadists, but mercenaries from the northern part of Syria. They came to Azerbaijan through Turkey and Turkey was instrumental in the recruitment process. The number is very different, starting with 1000, ending with 5000. It is very, very obvious, proven that they are there, there to fight the people of Nagorno Karabakh.
Question: What do you expect from India?
Avet Adonts: First of all, we value the quality and dynamics of our cooperation with India. India is a critical partner for Armenia, not only on our bilateral agenda, but also within the region and the international agenda. This is very much in line with the friendship and cooperation treaty that we are implementing together with India. As I mentioned at the beginning, de-escalation is very important, just as the unacceptability of this is hugely important. The joint statement produced by the OSCE group in Minsk: Russia, the US, France, Putin, Trump, Macron, have called for the military operation to stop and the third party is heavily involved, the name of the third party It is Turkey.
Question: Reports of Pakistani support in terms of sending men to the field? It is true?
Avet Adonts: You know, the two countries that have supported Azerbaijan in this development are Turkey and Pakistan. Both countries are supporting Azerbaijan with their military and political support. Many media reports, Pakistani fighters have left Pakistan and, again, via Turkey, have arrived in Azerbaijan to join the mercenaries operating in Azerbaijan. It will not be a surprise to us. It will practically be tested very soon.
Question: Your opinion, a considerable possibility of Pakistani citizens on the ground?
Avet Adonts: We cannot exclude this possibility, considering that they used to act in the same way in the early 1990s during the full-scale war in Nagorno-Karabakh. With the ceasefire agreement in 1994, these guys were there, Pakistani origin. It would not be a surprise to us if they were also present this time. Since Thursday, different media have aggressively reported the confrontation.
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