{"id":52836,"date":"2025-10-01T20:08:35","date_gmt":"2025-10-01T20:08:35","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/pakistanintheworld.pk\/live\/?p=52836"},"modified":"2025-10-01T20:08:35","modified_gmt":"2025-10-01T20:08:35","slug":"land-mine-terrorism-of-armenia-peace-efforts-in-south-caucasus-by-javid-shahverdiyev","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/pakistanintheworld.pk\/live\/land-mine-terrorism-of-armenia-peace-efforts-in-south-caucasus-by-javid-shahverdiyev\/","title":{"rendered":"Land Mine Terrorism of Armenia & Peace Efforts in South Caucasus – by Javid Shahverdiyev"},"content":{"rendered":"

\"\"Javid Shahverdiyev from Baku<\/span><\/span><\/strong><\/p>\n

\"\"The primary focus in the South Caucasus region today is the signing of a peace agreement between Azerbaijan and Armenia. Following Second Karabakh War and the anti-terror operations conducted on September 19\u201320, 2023, new opportunities for peace have emerged. However, there are still significant obstacles hindering the peace agenda. One of the most critical issues is the matter of landmine maps. Landmine terror is one of the key indicators of Armenian terrorism.<\/strong><\/em><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

Armenia\u2019s landmine terror has become even more evident and pronounced in the post-war period following the 44-day Patriotic War. Since 2020, hundreds of Azerbaijani citizens have become victims of this terror, either directly or indirectly. This clearly shows that Armenia continues to pursue a policy of revenge. The ongoing consequences are the result of many years of deliberate landmine placement by Armenia in the occupied territories.<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

As a result of Armenia\u2019s ongoing landmine terror, innocent people continue to lose their lives or suffer serious injuries. Since 2020, landmines laid by the Armenian side, along with unexploded ordnance, have caused the death or injury of 392 people. This is not only a physical threat but also a serious psychological and social burden on affected individuals and communities.<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

The landmines planted during the occupation period pose a major threat to establishing lasting peace in the region. International cooperation and assistance are crucial in eliminating this danger. At the same time, the grave humanitarian situation in the mine-contaminated areas requires serious international attention.<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

Holding Armenia accountable within the framework of international law remains a critical responsibility for relevant international organizations. The deliberate planting of landmines constitutes a severe violation of human rights and significantly impedes the restoration of peace and security in the region.<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

The Landmine Issue Has Become One of Azerbaijan\u2019s Most Serious Problems Today, the landmine issue has become one of Azerbaijan\u2019s biggest challenges.<\/span><\/span><\/strong><\/p>\n

Following 30 years of plundering and destruction by Armenia, the Azerbaijani state is carrying out large-scale reconstruction and development efforts in the liberated territories of Karabakh and Eastern Zangezur, and is facilitating the return of displaced persons to their homelands. However, the landmine threat poses a serious obstacle to this process and remains a danger to the lives and health of civilians. Armenia\u2019s objective is a continuation of warfare against Azerbaijan\u2019s civilian population.<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

The discovery of mines and booby traps in residential homes, cemeteries, and other civilian sites across the liberated territories is clear evidence of this. Some mass graves have even been surrounded by mines. Landmines were planted in these areas to target people searching for or visiting the graves of their loved ones after decades of longing.<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

In addition to civilians, animals have also fallen victim to this mine terror. In fact, as they retreated from Aghdam, Kalbajar, and Lachin in 2020, Armenian forces planted additional mines. This constitutes a crime against humanity. According to assessments by demining experts, approximately 4.5 million mines may have been planted in areas already cleared or planned for future clearance.<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

\"\"Experts estimate that the total cost of the mines laid by Armenia could reach $400 million<\/strong>\u00a0\u2014 a staggering figure by local standards. This suggests that during the years of occupation, Armenia spent nearly 50% of its 2020 military budget or 10% of its entire state budget on mining Azerbaijani territories.\u00a0<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

At the opening ceremony of the 2nd Shusha Global Media Forum in July 2024, President of Azerbaijan Ilham Aliyev also addressed Armenia\u2019s contamination of Azerbaijani territory with landmines after the war. \u201cAfter the signing of the Trilateral Statement on November 10, 2020, and during the period when we did not have control over the Lachin corridor, mines were transported from Armenia and planted in Karabakh.<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

How do we know this?<\/strong> Because the mines bear inscriptions such as \u2018Manufactured in 2021, Made in Armenia.\u2019 Just imagine \u2014 even after the Second Karabakh War ended, they continued carrying out mine terror against us.\u201d<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

President Aliyev also brought to the forum participants\u2019 attention that many countries around the world are suffering from landmine terrorism.<\/strong>\u00a0He stressed that the minefield maps provided by Armenia are completely useless and inaccurate: \u201cAt first, when we requested the maps, Armenia\u2019s prime minister told me that they didn\u2019t exist. Later, they were forced to admit that the maps did exist \u2014 but they were utterly unreliable.\u201d<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

President Aliyev emphasized<\/strong> that landmines remain the biggest obstacle to the return of former internally displaced persons to their homes. He noted that before any infrastructure projects or residential construction begins in these areas, they must first be demined: \u201cUnfortunately, we lack sufficient resources and experienced personnel.<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

International organizations and companies are offering us prices that are 5 to 10 times higher per square meter than what we can afford. We have our own Mine Action Agency and local companies. But how long this process will take \u2014 it is very hard to say.\u201d It is widely recognized that the rehabilitation of the liberated territories is a long and arduous task.<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

President Aliyev reminded forum participants<\/strong>\u00a0that even in the Balkans, mine explosions continue to occur 25 years after conflict ended, stressing that this has become a global problem: \u201cAlthough the conflict in the Balkans ended years ago, such incidents still happen. Sadly, we too will face this issue for decades to come.\u00a0<\/span><\/span>Current data suggests that more than one million mines have been planted in our territories.\u201d<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

Questions on Washigton Deal btw Azerbaijan & Armenia ! President Ilham Aliyev Gives Answers on “No Agreement Signed ! What if Change Comes in Armenia ! Iran’s Concerns ! Russian Reaction !”<\/a><\/p><\/blockquote>\n