Tazeen Akhtar
Azerbaijani nation is commemorating the innocent victims of Khojali Genocide by Armenian military with the support of Soviet forces in the country and around the world where ever the countrymen are present. 28 years ago, the Armenian military units carried out an act of genocide in the Khojaly city with a population of 7,000 on February 26, 1992.
During the Khojaly genocide, 613 people were killed, 1,000 civilians of various ages became disabled as a result of the bullet wounds received. As many as 106 women, 63 young children, 70 old men were killed, eight families were completely destroyed, 25 children lost both parents, 130 – one of the parents. On the night of the tragedy, 1,275 civilians were captured, and the fate of 150 of them is still unknown.
This genocide of ethnic Azerbaijanis was carried out by the Armenian military with particular ruthlessness and unthinkable brutality.
The second Battalion of the 366th Regiment of the Soviet Army under the command of Major Seyran Ohanyan, the 3rd Battalion under the command of Evgeny Nabokikhin, the Chief of Staff of the first Battalion Valery Chitchyan and over 50 Armenian officers and warrant officers participated in the attack on the city.
Embassy of Azerbaijan in Pakistan held a seminar in collaboration with National University of Modern Languages (NUML) here on 24 Feb 2020. The subject of the seminar was “Together for Peace & Humanity; End to Ethnic Cleansing & Genocide”. It was a very well attended seminar in which the Director General of the University Brig R Mohammad Ibrahim, Head of International Relations Dr Riaz and large number of students were also present.
Chairman Senate Standing Committee on Foreign Relations, Senator Mushahid Hussain Syed was chief guest. Former president of Azad Jammu Kashmir Maj Gen R Sardar Anwer Khan, Dean of Diplomatic Corp Ambassador Turkmenistan Mr Atadjan Movlamov also graced the event with their presence. Ambassadors of Bosnia,Kazakhstan, Kyrgyz Republic, Tajikistan,Belarus, High Commissioner of Nigeria, Diplomats of Ukraine, Somalia and other countries were also present.
Ambassador of Azerbaijan, Mr Ali Alizade, in his address, shed light on the Khojaly Genocide with facts and figures. He said that it was a crime against humanity that needs to be condemned by the world community. He expressed gratitude to the nations that declared it a genocide. He particularly described Pakistan’s support in this regard. He said that Pakistani parliament passed a resolution in which Khojaly Massacre was declared a Genocide.
Ambassador said that Pakistan does not recognize Armenia for its occupation on the regions of Azerbaijan. Pakistan supports Azerbaijan on Nagorno Karabakh and Azerbaijan reciprocate in the same way on Jammu & Kashmir dispute.
Ambassador of Bosnia Mr Saqib shared his nations bitter history of bearing extreme cruelties at the hands of Serb forces. He said Pakistan stood by Bosnian nation at the difficult time.
Sardar Anwer Khan apprised the participants about the present status of Jammu Kashmir dispute with India.
Senator Mushahid Hussain Syed spoke on almost all burning issues of the Muslim world from Palestine to Kashmir and from Africa to Azerbaijan. He said that the occupation forces adopted same methods of blockades, curfews and racial cleansing every where. Pakistan always supported the oppressed people. Pakistan had no economic or trade interests in Bosnia but voiced against the massacre of the Bosnian people. Pakistan raised voice in favor of Moroccan, Tunisian, Algerian and other African nations during their struggle for freedom. Pakistan was standing with Nelson Mandela and Robert Mugabe. The leader of Tunisia Mr Habib Bourguiba used to travel in the world on Pakistani passport.
He reiterated Pakistani support for Azerbaijan at every level and forum.
Prime Minister of Pakistan Imran Khan’s speech was also screened in the seminar in which he highlighted the plight of Muslim countries subjected to external aggression.
The embassy of Azerbaijan arranged a photo exhibition of the Khojaly Genocide at the sidelines of the seminar.
