Ceasefire accepted in Nagorno-Karabakh amid escalating conflict

This decision comes just a day after Azerbaijan initiated a military operation in the disputed Nagorno-Karabakh region.

Azerbaijan officially labeled its offensive as an "anti-terrorist" campaign against separatist forces in the area, leading to casualties on both sides, with dozens killed and hundreds wounded, according to Karabakh officials.

Nagorno-Karabakh, a landlocked region situated within Azerbaijan's borders, has long been a contentious point of conflict. While it is internationally recognized as part of Azerbaijan, it is inhabited predominantly by around 120,000 ethnic Armenians who vehemently reject Azerbaijani rule.

The region operates with its own de facto government, supported by Armenia, although it lacks official recognition from Armenia or any other nation.

The ceasefire, set to commence at 1 p.m. local time (5 a.m. ET) on Wednesday, was announced by the Nagorno-Karabakh Presidential office. The statement declared an agreement to withdraw remaining Armenian armed forces from the Russian peacekeeping troops' deployment zone and the complete disarmament of armed groups in the region.

In response to this development, the Azerbaijani defense ministry has agreed to suspend its military operation, according to reports from the Russian news agency RIA Novosti.

Azerbaijan has also expressed its intention to hold discussions with representatives of the Armenian community in Nagorno-Karabakh on Thursday in the city of Yevlakh. The talks are expected to focus on reintegration matters in accordance with Azerbaijan's constitution and laws.

The Nagorno-Karabakh presidency acknowledged that its Defense Army faced significant challenges, citing an imbalance in forces, as it defended the region from Azerbaijani troops on Tuesday. The Defense Army reported casualties and instances where enemy forces penetrated their outposts, capturing strategic positions.

In light of these developments, the Nagorno-Karabakh Presidential Office emphasized that the international community's efforts to end the conflict and seek a resolution had proven insufficient, leading to their acceptance of the ceasefire proposal put forward by the Russian peacekeeping contingent's command.

The Azerbaijan-Armenia conflict over Karabakh, rooted in ethnic and territorial disputes, has a tumultuous history dating back to the early 20th century. It erupted into full-scale warfare in the early 1990s following the dissolution of the Soviet Union, resulting in the loss of an estimated 30,000 lives and displacing over a million people.

A ceasefire was established in 1994, but the conflict remained unresolved, with numerous ceasefire violations and skirmishes over the subsequent decades.

In 2020, the conflict flared up once again, culminating in a 44-day war. This was the deadliest phase of the conflict since the 1990s, claiming over 6,000 lives. Azerbaijan emerged victorious, regaining control of seven surrounding districts of Nagorno-Karabakh and a significant portion of the region itself.

The war concluded with the signing of a trilateral ceasefire agreement involving Armenia, Azerbaijan, and Russia. The agreement also saw the deployment of Russian peacekeepers to Nagorno-Karabakh. However, despite the ceasefire, the underlying conflict remains unresolved, and a final settlement remains elusive. Concerns also persist regarding the safety of Armenian civilians residing in Nagorno-Karabakh, now under Azerbaijani control.

The Azerbaijan-Armenia conflict over Karabakh stands as a complex and enduring challenge, underscoring the need for comprehensive understanding and concerted efforts to achieve a lasting peace. (ILKHA)