The Pinaka 214 MM Multi Barrel Rocket Launcher System, Republic Day Parade, New Delhi, January 23, 2011 (Wikimedia Commons)
Recently a deal of $300 million was confirmed to purchase ammunition, Pinaka Multi Barrel rocket launcher systems, and a host of other things and now Armenia is in talks to sign another deal to acquire anti-drone systems from India to counter Turkish-made kamikaze drones operated by Azerbaijan. Azerbaijan has the upper hand in the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict due to the heavy usage of unmanned drones which helps Azerbaijan to target Armenian positions remotely and minimize its casualties. The recent purchases clearly show Armenia’s intent to strengthen its military and in anticipation of another conflict, it is going to fight back for its territory and reclaim it from Azerbaijan which is illegally occupying it. Armenia’s choice of buying weapons from India stems from the old relationship it had with India during the Soviet days and also the fact that Azerbaijan has sided with Turkey makes India the perfect candidate for Armenia to buy weapons from. Moreover, Armenia is a vital component of the INSTC (Internation North-South Trade Corridor) and it is in India’s interest to bolster Armenia’s defense. The conflict is at a stalemate currently with both sides heavily deploying troops on both sides, the slightest miscalculation or provocation may push the entire region into war and will have devastating consequences for the region and its people. Azerbaijan diplomatically has expressed concern over India supplying weapons to Armenia which shows the double standards of Azerbaijan, who purchase weapons from Turkey but expect rival nations to arm themselves in self-defense. The involvement of Turkey can be seen as that Turkey is not happy with the proposed INSTC route as it will reduce the importance of Turkey in terms of global trade routes.
International Community
The international community has called for restraint on both sides and has asked Azerbaijan to stop blocking the Lachin Corridor and allow Armenia to send essential goods to Nagorno-Karabakh, Azerbaijan has been deliberately blocking the Lachin Corridor as it is the only connection between Nagorno-Karabakh and Armenia hence Azerbaijan has been depriving the people of Nagorno-Karabakh of essential goods such as medicine among a host other things, The United Nations Security Council (UNSC) has reaffirmed Azerbaijan’s territorial jurisdiction over Nagorno-Karabakh while asking Azerbaijan to respect the rights of Armenian people living in Nagorno-Karabakh, even though Nagorno Karabakh rightfully belongs to Armenia we can truly see the biased approach of the United Nations which since WW2 has not undergone in reforms in an attempt to modernize and diversify its current members. Allies of Azerbaijan have accused India of interfering in the internal matters of Armenia and Azerbaijan, and Azerbaijan has accused India of threatening the region’s stability by supplying arms to Armenia, this new development has instilled fear in the international community that the region will experience war once again which will result in violence and bloodshed. In 2020 Armenia and Azerbaijan fought for 44 days which saw Azerbaijan having the upper hand and reclaiming its so-called lost territory from Armenia and continued to violate the rights of Armenian supporters in Nagorno-Karabakh.
While peace is the only ideal solution that everyone hopes for Armenia’s strong intent to purchase weapons from India is a signal to Azerbaijan that any unprovoked aggression from Azerbaijan will be met with equal force and in the future they intend to fight and finally bring Nagorno Karabakh under Armenian jurisdiction, but the ideal solution is dialogue and diplomacy which both sides should pursue as it is in the best interest of the region and its people.
