I am pleased to learn that the Republic of Armenia has finally decided to counter Pakistan’s persistently pro-Azeri, pro-Turkish, and anti-Armenian policies.
Last week, Radio Free Europe (RFE) reported that Armenia vetoed Pakistan’s request for observer status in the Parliamentary Assembly of the Collective Security Treaty Organization (CSTO), in response to Pakistan’s anti-Artsakh (Nagorno-Karabagh/NKR) position.
Armenia argued that “Pakistan has refused to not only establish diplomatic relations with Armenia but also formally recognize the latter as an independent state,” according to RFE. Indeed, Pakistan is one of a handful of countries in the world that is yet to recognize Armenia after a quarter century of independence.
This relatively minor episode is a welcome development which shows that Armenia’s leaders are willing to flex their muscle from time to time. Such a move would also serve notice to other countries that Armenia is ready and willing to defend its interests and undermine those of its antagonists when necessary.
Pakistan’s anti-Armenian stance predates Armenia’s independence. I recall vividly the speeches of Pakistan’s Ambassadors to the United Nations in 1970’s and 1980’s, in support Turkey’s denials of the Armenian Genocide, during the sessions of the Human Rights Commission in Geneva, Switzerland.
After Armenia became independent in 1991, Pakistan continued its hostile policies against Armenia and Artsakh, staunchly supporting both Azerbaijan and Turkey. Mercenary Mujahideen terrorists from Pakistan and Afghanistan were hired by Azerbaijan to fight Armenians during the Artsakh War. Since then, the leaders of Pakistan and Azerbaijan have visited each other on numerous occasions to bolster their economic and military ties. For example, Pakistan’s Defense Minister Syed Athar Ali, during a visit to Baku in 2010, discussed with Azerbaijan’s President Ilham Aliyev the “strengthening of cooperation in the military sphere and defense industry,” according to APA (Azeri Press Agency). In response, President Aliyev thanked Pakistan for voting in the UN General Assembly in favor of “the resolution on the situation of the occupied Azerbaijani territories and for not recognizing Armenia in connection with the aggression against Azerbaijan.”
In March 2015, during his visit to Baku, Pakistan’s President Mamnoon Hussain declared: “We have always backed Azerbaijan’s fair position on the Armenian-Azerbaijani Nagorno-Karabagh conflict. Pakistan does not recognize Armenia as a state.” He also announced that Pakistan’s Senate had recognized as genocide the killings of Azeris by Armenians in Khojalu during the Artsakh war.
On April 5, during the barbaric attack by Azerbaijan’s military on Artsakh villagers, Pakistan’s Foreign Ministry falsely blamed Armenia for “violating the ceasefire” by “continuous artillery firing.” Later that month, during his visit to Islamabad, Azerbaijan’s Defense Minister Yavar Jamalov told Pakistan’s Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif that Azerbaijan is keen on purchasing military hardware from Pakistan. A similar discussion was held on Sept. 27, during a meeting in Baku between Pakistan’s Defense Minister Rana Tanveer Hussain and President Aliyev.
On Oct. 14, during his reciprocal visit to Azerbaijan, Pakistan’s Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif told President Aliyev about his country’s interest in holding joint military training. Nawaz also “called for complete return of occupied Azeri lands, withdrawal of Armenian forces, and return of displaced persons and refugees.” In return, President Aliyev expressed his country’s support for Pakistan’s position on Jammu and Kashmir, in opposition to India. A month later, when Azerbaijan’s First Deputy Prime Minister Yaqub Eyyubov visited Pakistan, President Mamnoon Hussain reminded him that Pakistan was the third country after Turkey and Romania to have recognized Azerbaijan. President Hussain also thanked Azerbaijan for supporting Pakistan in its dispute with India over Jammu and Kashmir, and pledged to continue backing Azerbaijan’s claims on Nagorno-Karabagh.
Not to be outdone by Azerbaijan, Turkish President Erdogan visited Pakistan on Nov. 17 where he was welcomed by Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif in his “second home.” In return, Erdogan proclaimed: “The whole world should emulate Pakistan!”
The Republic of Armenia and the Diaspora should continue countering Pakistan and other anti-Armenian states to discourage them from causing further damage to Armenia’s interests. Below are several suggested actions:
— Armenia should vote against pro-Pakistani issues in the UN General Assembly;
— Armenia should block Pakistan’s efforts to associate itself with the Eurasian Economic Union;
— Armenia should side with India in its dispute with Pakistan over Jammu and Kashmir;
— Armenian-Americans should urge the U.S. Congress to hold hearings on Pakistan’s grave human rights violations.
Harut Sassounian
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Typical blind Muslim mentality by Pakistani leaders.
Pakistan is the hub of Islamic terrorism. It exports terrorists everywhere – Afghanistan, Syria, Libya, China, USA, India, U.K.The recent attack in Ohio university, USA, also was by a Muslim terrorist brainwashed,if not trained, Pakistan.
Pakistan supported Turkey in its earlier genocides and also e ongoing one in Syria, where Turks are killing locals to overrow the government.
Do You Realize How Stupid You Sound.It Is Very Much Obvious You Are An Indian Commenting With A Pakistani Name.
Not even. It’s an open secret that India has been funding both the BLA and TTP against Pakistan.
I am from Pakistan and fully support Armenia and Arminian cause. Armenians are great people, great country. Very peace loving people. In fact Armenia is victim and proof that hundreds of thousands forced to leave their motherland and seek refuge in other countries.
Are you sure qaiser i dont know what happened and i bet even you too between azerbaijan and armenia but we can guess at least from the nature of nations like:
— Armenia should vote against pro-Pakistani issues in the UN General Assembly;
— Armenia should block Pakistan’s efforts to associate itself with the Eurasian Economic Union;
— Armenia should side with India in its dispute with Pakistan over Jammu and Kashmir;
— Armenian-Americans should urge the U.S. Congress to hold hearings on Pakistan’s grave human rights violations.
These policies proves their genocides is they were right about no genocide they would have send a delegation with proofs and we will favour them.
As if Pakistan is loved by the world, they are not even recognized by Afghanistan and have a land dispute with them. And China is only using them to gain access to influence in the Arabian Sea and adjacent areas. Paki government looks at relationships through a religious scope instead of a humanity one
I am a journalist from Islamabad and I may tell you that majority of Pakistanis are unaware of Armenian Genocide. Here live humans so I started to rise the Armenian voice and started to let my people know what happened to helpless Armenians…. can you believe this year we on aired the news report of genocide on 24th April, I can provide the clipping if required. So this is all about the awareness. I recently visited the Julfa area in Isfahan where live the Armenians and met people, they were amazed that a Pakistani knew that much about the Armenian genocide…. so please start interactions, many Pakistani live in Europe, US and other parts of the world so don’t run away from them…talk to them and aware them please. Last word… who is the terrorist in the world only people know who have some knowledge. Regards
Happy to hear that Armenia’s political leaders have finally realized that Pakistan’s non-recognition is not a one-edged sword. It means that Armenia shall not recognize Pakistan in response with all its adverse effect for Pakistan.
I wonder why the Pakistani government tend to be a greater genocidist than the shameful genocidal Turkey?
I’m from PAKISTAN, I grown up knowing from our childhood that Pakistan and Israel had no diplomatic relations, and none were even intended. But Armenia?
Pakistan should take steps on reality not on only Islamic Brotherhood. Pakistan is facing much problems than any other country by terrorism, So don’t blame on Pakistan as support to terrorists.
India try to build a good relationship with Armenia. Modi just visited Armenia. Opportunities is immense in collaboration in IT and medicine.
Dear Harut Sassounian,
Indeed it is a surprise for many Pakistanis that our country has yet to recognize Armenia. Such strange policy of blindly following Turkey, Azerbaijan narrative is rather silly. Let me assure you that I personally will highlight this matter in our press and other news platforms. But you have to understand this: You have an on-going dispute with Azerbaijan and Turkey, the closest friends of Pakistan. Now Pakistan is the only country that can somehow shrink a gap between Armenia and Azerbaijan because they will listen to us. So instead of responding to Pakistan with hostility, Armenia should try to communicate with Pakistan. EEU would have been a good option for starter. Lastly, please don’t try to bring in India to counter Pakistan. India would only hurt your interests as it already has not so much cordial diplomatic relations with both Turkey and Azerbaijan so they would not further deteriorate their relations. Instead they will use Armenia to hurt Pakistan. Lastly as you have given some suggestions, allow me to give some of my own:
1. Let’s have journalists interactions/sharing of thoughts.
2. Provide us information and Armenian official stand.
3. Find reasons to engage Pakistan on economic front. Tell us we can help you with that.
4. Please understand Pakistan has very strong relations with Turkey and Azerbaijan. We would never jeopardize them so you and us have to find a mutual interest bypassing the current diplomatic scenario.
May Armenia have a bright and prosperous future.
I would love to hear from you.
Thank you
Thank you for your thoughtful reply.
I think the mutual interest is the recognition of self-determination as a UNIVERSAL human right for both the peoples of Kashmir and Nagorno-Karabakh. The respective situations of Kashmiris and Artsakhis align in that they exist under borders crafted by outsiders and NOT according to the wishes of the people who live there and the Armenians in Azerbaijan have experienced pogroms against them in like manner that Muslims in India have experienced them in Gujarat and New Delhi.
Given the tragic legacy of the late Ottoman Empire having prosecuted a campaign of genocide against Armenians in the early 20th century century, transcendence might be a bit much of an ask. Do you suppose that Pakistan would be willing to recognize the Armenian genocide, couching in in the narrative that that was not an act of the modern state of Turkey?
Acknowledging that historic collective wound and affirming the injustice of it would go far, I would think.
Lol we even care
Long live Pakistan turkey Azerbaijan Friendship
Azerbaijan buys weapons from Israel, thus helping fund Israel’s genocide against Palestinians.
In regards to the idea that Armenia should side with India in the Kashmir dispute, this is exactly the WRONG position to take, because denying the right to Kashmiri self-determination to spite Pakistan cedes moral high ground, because it gives the appearance of hypocrisy. The objectively moral position is to support the right of self-determination for ALL people and not bias recognition of human rights on the basis of religious identity, like Pakistan and Azerbaijan are doing, by recognizing that right only for Muslims.
The Kashmiri people are suffering egregious war crimes under Indian occupation; torture, mass rapes and extrajudicial murder. On the basis of simple human decency and being bound as a contracting party to the Geneva Conventions and UN Charter, it must be condemned.
Returning spite for spite does little to morally or ideologically distinguish Armenia from Azerbaijan or Pakistan. Condemning India’s actions in IOK and supporting self-determination as a universal human right also deprives Pakistani antipathy toward Armenia of much of its energy.
Laura Standley, What about Pakistan atrocities against Kashmiris in POK? They are very well documented. I don’t see a single word in your writeup condemning the ill treatment of Kashmiris by Pakistan, which also includes murdering, raping, forcibly converting to islam, and driving out the indigenous Kashmiri Hindus (called Pandits) from Kashmir. Since your writeup is full of bias, I hope you don’t have any real influence in Armenian policy making.
Kashmir for India and Artsakh for Armenia!
Pakistan should recognize Arminia . Arminia is a nice country and they suffered a lot already in the last century