In News:

In a landmark development, Armenia and Azerbaijan have finalized a peace agreement in 2024, aiming to end decades of hostilities over the Nagorno-Karabakh region—a flashpoint in the South Caucasus with deep-rooted ethnic and geopolitical tensions.

About Nagorno-Karabakh:

• A landlocked, mountainous region in the South Caucasus, referred to as Artsakh by Armenians.
• Located within internationally recognized Azerbaijani territory, but historically inhabited by ethnic Armenians.
• Features diverse geography: steppe lowlands, dense forests, and alpine meadows.

Historical Background:

• Soviet Era (1920s): USSR established Nagorno-Karabakh as an autonomous region within Muslim-majority Azerbaijan, despite its Armenian Christian majority.
• Post-USSR Collapse (1991): Karabakh declared independence; First Nagorno-Karabakh War (1988–1994) broke out.
  • Result: Armenian forces took control of Nagorno-Karabakh and surrounding Azerbaijani districts.
• 2017: A referendum in Karabakh changed the government to a fully presidential system and renamed the region from Nagorno-Karabakh Republic to Republic of Artsakh.
• Second War (2020): Azerbaijan regained significant territory; thousands of soldiers were killed on both sides.
• 2023 Azerbaijani Offensive: In a swift one-day operation, Azerbaijan reasserted full control over the region.
  • The Republic of Artsakh (unrecognized government) was officially dissolved in 2024.
  • Over 1 lakh ethnic Armenians fled to Armenia.

India’s Position:

• India maintains a neutral stance, supports a peaceful diplomatic resolution under the aegis of the OSCE Minsk Group.
• Both Armenia and Azerbaijan are part of the International North-South Transport Corridor (INSTC), critical for India’s strategic connectivity and trade with Central Asia and Russia.