A border clash erupted along the borders of both countries in which around 100 people were killed. According to Armenia, Azerbaijan shelled its several regions including Jermuk and Goris. Whereas Azerbaijan says that the attack was to counter the large-scale provocations by the Armenian troops. 49 soldiers were killed on the Armenian side and 50 on Azerbaijan’s side. India observing all this, has asked the aggressor side to immediately cease hostilities.
HIGHLIGHTS
- Armenia and Azerbaijan are again in a new round of clashes.
- Armenia lost 49 soldiers and Azerbaijan lost 50 soldiers.
- Fear of full-scale war hanging on us.Â
Where are they located?
Armenia is situated in the southwestern part of Asia, surrounded by Iran to the south, Turkey to the west, Georgia to the north and Azerbaijan to the east, it is a landlocked country. On the other hand, Azerbaijan is located in the southern region of the Caucasus Mountains and it borders the Caspian Sea to the east and the Great Caucasus Mountain to the south. The population of Armenia and Azerbaijan is roughly around 30 lakhs and 1 crore respectively. The majority religion in Armenia and Azerbaijan is Christianity and Islam respectively and despite that both countries are secular.
History of the two Neighbours
Historically both the countries were part of the Soviet Union or USSR before the 1990s. But when the USSR dissolved, these two countries got independence. Now, the years-long conflict arises from a disputed territory between the two countries, called Nagorno Karabakh. Both the countries put forward their claims on the region, but to which country it belongs is a big question.
At the international level, the control of the disputed land was in the hand of Armenia but internationally, it is considered officially to be part of Azerbaijan. The region was part of the Russian Empire but soon after the fall of the Tsarist regime in 1918, Armenia and Azerbaijan were made. With this, the struggle started between both countries over the disputed territory.
After three years the Soviet Union captured the whole Caucasus Region and both countries became republics of the Soviet Union. Now, under the regime of the Soviet Union, Nagorno Karabakh, which was given the status of a semi-autonomous region, was given to Azerbaijan, despite its majority population belonging to Armenians. During this period, the public demanded to merge with Armenia but these demands were not considered by the Soviet Union. Fortunately, peace prevailed in the region.
After this, when the Soviet Union was giving more political freedom to its people with the help of the Glasnost policy, the people of the Nagorno Karabakh region used it as an opportunity to demand to leave Azerbaijan. After this, its parliament, the Nagorno-Karabakh Autonomous Oblast (NKAO) demanded to get unified with Armenia. This escalated violence in the region but after the dissolution of the USSR, both countries became independent in 1991. Soon after this, the conflict shaped itself into a full-scale war called the First Nagorno Karabakh War.
Armenia came out as the winner of the war and possessed most of the control of the territory. With the help of Russia, a ceasefire agreement was signed between both countries. but this was not the end of it. Apart from minor clashes over the years, a full-scaled war erupted in the year 2020 and again with the help of Russia again 2020 a ceasefire agreement was signed.
After this again in 2021, the corridor which connects Armenia to the disputed region was closed and both the countries accused each other of initiating the fighting.
Way Forward
What has happened recently, triggers the fear of full-scale war. It also reminds us how the world is getting more and more volatile day by day and resolution of issues between countries in a peaceful manner should be our top priority. The ultimate motive of the world is to ensure peace in the region as we do not want any more wars that only lead to destruction and kill people. A peaceful resolution of the decade long dispute should be welcomed by both sides. Aggression will only make the matters worse but not resolve the issue.Â
