Azerbaijan’s 44-day war, strategic prospects take centre stage in Malaysian forum

A hybrid roundtable titled “Azerbaijan’s Strategic Prospects in Connection with the 44-day Patriotic War” was held at the National Defence University of Malaysia.

The event was jointly organized by the Embassy of Azerbaijan in Malaysia and the Malaysian National Defence University, with participation from Azerbaijan’s National Defence University, Caliber.Az reports via local media.

The discussions emphasized the significance of Victory Day in Azerbaijan’s history, highlighting that the 44-Day Patriotic War marked the beginning of a new era for the country.

Norhana binti Abdul Halim, Deputy Vice Chancellor of the Malaysian National Defence University, emphasized that the roundtable provided an important platform to examine the details of the war, which was launched to end the 30-year occupation of Azerbaijani territories. She expressed hope that the dialogue would further strengthen cooperation between the defence universities of the two nations.

Major General Gunduz Abdulov, Rector of Azerbaijan’s National Defence University, delivered an online presentation on the course of the Patriotic War, which broke out on September 27, 2020, and lasted 44 days, culminating in a decisive victory for the Azerbaijani army under the leadership of President Ilham Aliyev, Supreme Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces.

Abdulov outlined the key factors contributing to success, including diplomatic and political measures, information support, and military strategy. He stressed that the victory was not only a military achievement but also a celebration of national unity and solidarity between the people, the state, and the army. He also shared insights on army development, the activities of the National Defence University, and its international collaborations, while inviting Malaysian colleagues to visit Azerbaijan to foster deeper ties.

Ambassador Irfan Davudov provided historical context and the consequences of the conflict, noting that Azerbaijan had long sought peaceful implementation of four UN Security Council resolutions, but with no results. In autumn 2020, a counteroffensive was launched to liberate occupied territories, restoring historical justice and reshaping the regional geopolitical landscape. He also highlighted Azerbaijan’s peacekeeping efforts and progress in normalizing relations with Armenia, emphasizing that the initialing of a peace agreement in Washington, and the signing of a joint statement by Presidents Ilham Aliyev, Donald Trump, and Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan, established a foundation for long-term regional stability and cooperation.

During the panel session, Colonel Elnur Alasgarli, Rector of the Military Administration Institute, analyzed the war, its decisive factors, professional combat operations, modern tactics, and international legal considerations.

Professor Dr Adam Leong Kok Wey, Director of the Centre for Defence and International Security Studies at Malaysia’s National Defence University, noted that the victory strengthened Azerbaijan’s position as a confident and independent state, demonstrating its ability to integrate military, diplomatic, and technological capabilities to achieve strategic objectives.

The roundtable concluded with a question-and-answer session and the screening of videos commemorating anti-terrorist operations on September 19–20, 2023, and Victory Day.

By Vafa Guliyeva