Azerbaijan defuses nearly 100 more landmines in Garabagh Weekly report

The Azerbaijan Mine Action Agency (ANAMA) has said its sappers found and defused 98 landmines in the country’s liberated territories.

Some 67 anti-tank and 31 antipersonnel landmines were found and neutralised during demining operations conducted from 2 to 8 October in Tartar, Aghdam, Lachin, Shusha, Fuzuli, Gubadli, Khojavand, Jabrayil and Zangilan, Caliber.Az informs, citing ANAMA.

As a result, an area of 426.5 hectares was cleared of mines and ammunition.

Since the end of the 44-day Armenia-Azerbaijan Second Karabakh War in 2020, the Azerbaijani government has been carrying out demining operations in the liberated territories to expedite the return of internally displaced people to their homes.

Armenia planted land mines in Azerbaijani territory, not only during the 30-year-long occupation but also just days before leaving the Azerbaijani lands, as envisaged in the trilateral declaration to cause human casualties.

Civilians and military personnel are frequently maimed or killed as a result of mine explosions in Azerbaijan's liberated regions.

Despite extensive efforts, demining operations faced many challenges due to Armenia’s refusal to hand over maps displaying the locations of the landmines.

ANAMA reported that the maps provided by Armenia were just 2 per cent effective in mine action. According to the Azerbaijani government data, international experts estimate that Azerbaijan needs nearly 30 years and $25 billion to solve issues related to demining.