Azerbaijan defuses over 130 mines, munitions in liberated lands

Azerbaijan's Mine Action Agency (ANAMA) has neutralized 38 more landmines, and dozens of unexploded ordnances in the liberated lands over the past week.

During the mine-clearing operations in Tartar, Aghdam, Khojavand, Lachin, Fuzuli, Shusha, Gubadli, Jabrayil and Zangilan districts, 21 anti-personnel, 17 anti-tank mines, as well as 96 unexploded ordnances (UXO) were found and neutralized from May 22 to 27, Azertag reports.

In total, 271 hectares were cleared of mines and UXOs, the agency added.

After achieving victory over Armenia in the Patriotic War in early November 2020, Azerbaijan launched the process of demining the territories that Armenia had been holding under occupation for almost three decades.

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

Azerbaijan obtained minefield maps of the once-occupied Aghdam, Fuzuli, and Zangilan districts from Armenia, which reportedly identify the coordinates of 189,000 anti-tank and anti-personnel mines. Armenia also provided the Azerbaijani side with mine maps of other liberated territories of Azerbaijan. In exchange for maps, Azerbaijan released dozens of Armenian saboteurs detained in Azerbaijani territory after the war. However, Azerbaijan’s President Ilham Aliyev said the accuracy of these maps did not exceed 25 per cent.

AMAMA 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.