While a low-intensity war in the Nagorno-Karabakh entered its 7th day, new speculation made by the Armenian foreign minister in an interview with an Indian news channel has taken everyone aback.
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“We can’t exclude the possibility” of Pakistani nationals on-ground supporting Azerbaijan, Armenia’s Deputy Foreign Minister Avet Adonts said.
Considering that both Turkey and Pakistan have pledged their diplomatic and military support to the Azeris officially, and the general trends among these countries’ operations make it highly probable.
The Armenian minister recalled that Pakistani fighters were present on-ground during the earlier 1994 Nagorno-Karabakh war too. “We can’t exclude this possibility, taking into account, they used to act in the same way at the beginning of the 90s during the large-scale war in Nagorno-Karabakh. With ceasefire agreement in 1994, these guys were there, of Pakistani origin,” he said.
“It would not be a surprise for us if they will be present this time as well,” the official remarked.
Pakistan and Armenia have always shared troubled relations. Pakistan is the only country in the world that does not recognize Armenia as a state and has overtly supported Azerbaijan in its acts in the Nagorno-Karabakh region.
As Islamabad is a “close friend” of Ankara, it has always supported the Turkish opinion on matters, and in this case too, supported Turkey when it openly declared its open support towards Azerbaijan. Additionally, Pakistan has always supported Turkey on its stance that the Armenian Genocide did not occur.
The Armenian minister, on being asked about the presence of Turkish-backed Syrian militants in the Artsakh, termed it a “very obvious” thing.
“Not only Jihadis but mercenaries from Northern Part of Syria too. They have arrived in Azerbaijan, via Turkey and Ankara was very 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 against Nagorno Karabakh people,” he added.
The Armenian government had also released figures of about 4000 Syrian militants arriving in the area quoting their intelligence sources earlier.
“Many media are reporting, Pakistani fighters have left Pakistan, and again via Turkey, they have reached Azerbaijan to join the mercenaries operating in Azerbaijan. It won’t be a surprise for us. Practically it will be proven very soon,” Adonts stated.
