Ritika
Highlights
- Armenia-Azerbaijan comparison being done with India-Pakistan
- Countries clashing over Nagorno Karabakh area
- Russia pacified the war that lasted for three months in 2020
Armenia Azerbaijan War: The war between Armenia and Azerbaijan has started once again. So far, about 100 soldiers of both the countries have died in the ongoing fighting on the border. Armenia claims that at least 49 of its soldiers have died in the fighting. While Azerbaijan has lost 50 of its soldiers. Now the fear has increased that apart from Russia and Ukraine, another full-fledged war may not start in the world. These two countries had fought for three months over the Nagorno Karabakh area two years ago. At that time Armenia had suffered heavy losses. Later fighting was stopped after Russian intervention and troops were dispatched.
Armenia said Azerbaijan’s military began firing on its border towns of Jermuk, Goris and Kapan on Tuesday. At the same time, Azerbaijan claimed that it took this action because Armenian forces were attacking the border. However, after the intervention of Russia, both the countries agreed to stop the firing with immediate effect. Let us tell you that Russia has very good relations with both these countries. Armenia and Azerbaijan are former Soviet nations.
Why compare Armenia and Azerbaijan with India-Pakistan?
The relationship between Armenia and Azerbaijan is being compared to that of India and Pakistan. Both the countries are arch enemies of each other since independence. Like Kashmir in India, there have been many wars over the Nagorno Karabakh area of these two countries. Nagorno Karabakh is spread over an area of 4400 square kilometres. This area is part of Azerbaijan internationally, but it is occupied by the Armenian ethnic group. In 1991, the people living in this area declared their independence from Azerbaijan and declared themselves as part of Armenia. Azerbaijan rejected this entire action.
There is often a fight between the two
Since then, there has been daily conflict between the two countries. Armenia is a Christian majority country, while Azerbaijan is a Muslim country. Similarly, India is a Hindu majority country and Pakistan is an Islamic country. Armenia and Azerbaijan first became independent between 1918 and 1921. Due to the border dispute at that time, enmity had arisen between these two countries. Azerbaijan claims that Armenia has annexed its territory, while Armenia continues to deny its claims.
Both joined the Soviet Union
This whole story begins, after the first world war. Armenia, Azerbaijan and Georgia joined the Soviet Union after the First World War that shook the world. During this, Russian leader Joseph Stalin gave the Nagorno Karabakh area of Azerbaijan to Armenia. This part was traditionally occupied by Azerbaijan but the people living here are of Armenian origin.
Both countries are former Soviet nations
When the Soviet Union disintegrated in 1991, Armenia and Azerbaijan also seceded from it and became independent nations. Then the people of Nagorno Karabakh went to Armenia and declared themselves independent from Azerbaijan. After which a situation of war arose between these two countries. People believed that Joseph Stalin made an agreement with Armenia over Nagorno Karabakh to please Armenia. Whereas Azerbaijan claims that this area is traditionally his and he will continue to merge it with his country.
