Pakistan on Wednesday reiterated its “unwavering” support for Azerbaijan’s sovereignty and territorial integrity.
Responding to journalists’ questions about the anti-terrorism operation launched this week by Azerbaijani forces in the Karabakh region, Pakistani Foreign Ministry spokesperson Mumtaz Zehra Baloch said Islamabad considers Karabakh to be Azerbaijan’s sovereign territory.
“Pakistan expresses its sincere condolences to the people and government of Azerbaijan over the loss of precious lives in a mine bomb blast on Azerbaijani territory,” Baloch added.
He said Islamabad’s stance was in line with various UN Security Council and Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) resolutions, as well as international law.
“We hope that Azerbaijan’s rights regarding its sovereignty and territorial integrity can be accepted by all parties, thereby paving the way for lasting peace in the region,” added a spokesman for Pakistan’s foreign ministry.
Baku launched a counter-terrorism operation in Karabakh, which has now been suspended under an agreement, according to Azerbaijan’s Defense Ministry.
Azerbaijan accepted an offer for the disarmament of illegal Armenian forces in Karabakh and the withdrawal of Armenian armed forces units, Baku said on Wednesday.
The counter-terrorism operation was launched to enforce provisions outlined in a trilateral peace agreement with Russia and Armenia to end the 2020 conflict.
Relations between Azerbaijan and Armenia have been tense since 1991, when the Armenian military occupied Nagorno-Karabakh, a region internationally recognized as part of Azerbaijan, and seven other adjacent regions.
In the fall of 2020, Azerbaijan liberated several cities, villages and settlements from Armenian occupation during 44 days of clashes.
The war ended with a ceasefire brokered by Russia.
Source : aa
