Islamuddin Sajid
October 15, 2020•Update: October 15, 2020
ISLAMABAD, Pakistan
Pakistan-administered Kashmir has condemned Armenian forces for attacking Azerbaijani civilians as the Upper Karabakh dispute remains unresolved and fighting continues.
The Azad Kashmir Legislative Assembly on Wednesday passed a unanimous resolution condemning Armenian aggression, and expressed solidarity with the people and the government of Azerbaijan.
A letter of support was sent separately to Azerbaijan's ambassador in Islamabad on Thursday.
Fighting began as a consequence of wrong claims by Armenia, it said, and thanked Baku for supporting Kashmiris at the Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) and other world forums.
Relations between Azerbaijan and Armenia have been strained since 1991 when the Armenian military occupied Upper Karabakh, an internationally recognized territory of Azerbaijan.
New clashes erupted on Sept. 27, and since then Armenia has continued attacks on civilians and Azerbaijani forces. This is despite a Moscow-brokered humanitarian truce reached last week for the exchange of prisoners and retrieval of bodies.
The OSCE Minsk Group – co-chaired by France, Russia, and the US – was formed in 1992 to find a peaceful solution to the conflict, but to no avail. A cease-fire, however, was agreed to in 1994.
Turkey has supported Baku's right to self-defense, and demanded a withdrawal of the occupying forces.
Meanwhile, the resolution also criticized Israeli forces for carrying out atrocities against Palestinians, and expressed solidarity with those living under occupation.
India and Israel are common enemies of the Muslims, and Muslim countries should work together to thwart the US and Israeli pressure and support the cause of Palestine and Kashmir, the resolution said.
