ISLAMABAD: Pakistan has rejected as “baseless and unwarranted” a claim by Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan that Pakistani Forces were reportedly fighting alongside the Azerbaijani army in the two countries’ conflict over the disputed Nagorno-Karabakh area.
In a statement, the Foreign Office (FO) asked the leadership of Armenia to halt its “irresponsible propaganda” and reiterated support for Azerbaijan’s right to self-defense. The FO said Pakistan “categorically rejected these baseless and unwarranted comments” by Pashinyan that had referred to “some unsubstantiated reports”.
The FO spokesman noted that Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev had also clarified his stance on the matter, stating that Azerbaijani forces were “strong enough to defend their homeland” and did not need the help of foreign forces.
“It is regrettable that the leadership of Armenia, to cover up its illegal actions against Azerbaijan, is resorting to irresponsible propaganda, which it must stop,” the FO added.
It stated that Pakistan has consistently extended diplomatic, moral and political support to Azerbaijan and “will continue to stand by the brotherly nation of Azerbaijan and support its right of self-defense against any aggression”.
“We believe that long-term peace and normalization of relations between the two parties would depend on the complete and comprehensive implementation of the UN Security Council resolutions and withdrawal of Armenian forces from Azerbaijani territories,” the statement emphasized.
On Thursday, the Armenian leader, in an interview with Russian news agency Rossiya Segodnya, had said that Pakistani forces, alongside Turkish troops, were taking part in the conflict in Nagorno-Karabakh.
He was asked whether his country had any proof for the claim that “foreign mercenaries and terrorists” were fighting on the Azerbaijani side.
“According to some reports, special forces of the Pakistani army are also involved in the hostilities,” Pashinyan said in his response, according to a transcript of the interview provided by the Armenian prime minister’s office.
