Tazeen Akhtar | Islamabad
For any nation, sovereignty is the highest value. For the Republic of Azerbaijan, September 20 embodies this value in its truest form. State Sovereignty Day is described as a symbol of the centuries-long struggle of the Azerbaijani people for independence, the restoration of constitutional order, and the affirmation of unity.
By the Decree of President Ilham Aliyev signed on September 19, 2024, September 20 is now observed annually as the State Sovereignty Day of the Republic of Azerbaijan.This is not just a date on the calendar. It is the culmination of a 30-year-long national struggle, sacrifice, and unwavering determination to restore justice and constitutional order.
From Occupation to Liberation : The Historical Background
Since the early 1990s, the Republic of Armenia pursued an aggression policy against Azerbaijan, in gross violation of the UN Charter. Armenia occupied 20 percent of Azerbaijan’s internationally recognized territory, carried out ethnic cleansing, destroyed cities and villages, and committed the Khojaly tragedy. losangeles.
For nearly three decades, the Preamble of the Constitution of Azerbaijan – which declares the protection of state independence, sovereignty and territorial integrity as its foremost objective – could not be enforced over those lands.
Ending this occupation became the central goal of the national idea of Azerbaijan. The turning point came on September 27, 2020. In response to Armenia’s new provocations, the 44-day Patriotic War began.
Under the leadership of Victorious Commander-in-Chief, President Ilham Aliyev, the Azerbaijani Armed Forces achieved a historic victory, liberating Jabrayil, Fuzuli, Zangilan, Gubadli, and the cultural capital Shusha on November 8, 2020, and implementing the UN Security Council resolutions.
The 23-Hour Operation that Restored Full Sovereignty
Despite the 2020 victory, remnants of Armenian armed forces remained in the Karabakh economic region, posing a threat to peace and constitutional order.To prevent further large-scale provocations and to restore constitutional order, the Azerbaijani Army conducted a local anti-terror operation on September 19, 2023. The operation lasted just 23 hours and concluded on September 20.
With high professionalism and heroism, the operation forced the illegal armed groups to surrender, disarmed them, and dissolved the so-called occupying regime in Khankendi, Khojaly, Khojavend and Aghdara. As a result, the sovereignty of the Republic of Azerbaijan was fully restored across its entire territory and the Azerbaijani flag now flies proudly in every corner of the country.
President Ilham Aliyev rightly stated: “Exactly one year ago, the heroic Azerbaijani Army fully restored state sovereignty. International law triumphed and Azerbaijan demonstrated its strength once again.”
The Constitutional Foundation
The path to sovereignty is also linked to Azerbaijan’s state-building journey. After the chaos of 1991-1993, National Leader Heydar Aliyev restored stability and laid the foundation for a modern state. On November 12, 1995, the first Constitution of independent Azerbaijan was adopted by referendum, becoming the legal backbone protecting independence, sovereignty, and territorial integrity.
This year Azerbaijan celebrates the 30th anniversary of that historic Constitution. September 20, therefore, symbolizes the full enforcement of that Constitution on all Azerbaijani lands.
Great Return and Reconstruction : The New Reality
Following the restoration of sovereignty, Azerbaijan launched extensive reconstruction programs in Karabakh and Eastern Zangezur under the direct supervision of President Ilham Aliyev and First Vice-President Mehriban Aliyeva.
Smart villages and cities, new infrastructure, energy networks, industrial zones, and Karabakh University in Khankendi have been built. More than 15,000 former internally displaced persons have already returned to their ancestral lands as part of the “Great Return” Program, all carried out independently by the Azerbaijani state.
The major challenge remains – nearly one million landmines left by the occupation pose a serious threat, with around 400 casualties since 2020. Large-scale demining continues with international support.
Why September 20 Matters for Pakistan
For Pakistan, which has always firmly supported Azerbaijan’s just position on the basis of international law and UN resolutions, September 20 is a day of shared joy. Both countries understand the price of territorial integrity and the value of martyrs’ blood, which is considered the national wealth of the Azerbaijani people.
As Azerbaijan moves forward with greater determination under its national interests, September 20 stands as a powerful reminder that justice, when pursued with unity, leadership and sacrifice, ultimately prevails.
