BY HARUT SASSOUNIAN
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 (Karabakh) 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-Karabakh 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, 2016, 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 September 27, 2016, during a meeting in Baku between Pakistan’s Defense Minister Rana Tanveer Hussain and Aliyev.
On October 14, 2016, during his reciprocal visit to Azerbaijan, Pakistan’s Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif told 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, 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, Hussain reminded him that Pakistan was the third country after Turkey and Romania to have recognized Azerbaijan. 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-Karabakh” (Artsakh).
Not to be outdone by Azerbaijan, Turkish President Erdogan visited Pakistan on November 17, 2016, 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.
At a time when Pakistan needs all the friends they can get in the West they side with the Turks and other islamists to become just another member of the islamic extremist group. There are current talks between Armenian, Greek, Jewish and Indian forces in USA that will totally isolate Pakistan . US should start applying sanctions on Pakistan to give up nuclear weapons. If they don’t agree just destroy them
Good job, for Armenia whoever is not with us is against us, NO place for mediocrity.
Armenians should also educate their Indian colleagues at work or in their neighborhoods about the common threat that Pakistan poses to both our countries. I have found every non-Muslim Indian I have spoken to receptive of the idea where Armenia and India support each other on the world stage to counter pakistan/turkey/azerbaijan (non-cap intentional).
We don’t need friends like Pakistan, which is perhaps the most backward country on the planet!! They can go to H!!
One of the forces behind pakistan’s stance on Armenian issues is the influential Turkish minority there.
Should we remind the world who was hiding bin la……
Suggest Pakistanis first read their own research Free-Book by: Ret. Col. Masud Mukhtar Shaikh http://armenians-1915.blogspot.com/2009/06/2894-free-e-book-lies-lies-and-more.html
Big deal!
Armenia first should learn how to properly treat it’s friends.
Iran has always been a close friend of Armenia and the relatively noticeable Armenian minority that is living in Iran is a proof itself.
Yet if you see how Armenians mistreat Iranian visitors to their country, calling them names, spitting Infront of their pass in the streets and imposing racist comments on them, you wonder how is it that they expect Pakistan respect them when they do not pay any respect to the only nation that helped them during the genocide?
It is Armenia who has to follow reasonable policy, because 90 % of its territory amounts to the mountains, so this country has no any perspective. Moreover, Armenia is surrounded by Turkic nations from Turkey, Azerbaijan, Iranian Azerbaijan. So surprisingly, Armenia is bullying these countries, occupying Azeri lands, claiming Turkish territories, only to make itself weaker and isolated. Armenia has surrendered itself to Russia. Secondly, There is no future of so-called Armenia-Greek-Indian alliance, because Armenia is totally dependent on Russia whose relations with Pakistan, Turkey and Azerbaijan are very good. Greece is on the brink of bankruptcy and weak. India is a big country that understands the importance of good relations with Turkic nations and does not cross the line in terms of Pakistan.
Pakistan is the cancer of the region. Its extreme Islamist policies and support for terrorism is well documented. Pakistan’s government is a proxy for Saidis and other fanatics in the world, including the Turks.
If anything, Pakistan should actually support Armenia on Karabakh, because the situation in Kashmir is very similar. Muslim Pakistanis are the majority population who do not want to live under Indian (Hindu) control, so Kashmir needs to either join Pakistan or become an independent entity. Not unlike the Armenian majority in Karabakh, who want to either formally join Armenia or be an independent state.
I have one word for the Paki to be concerned with, India…