Azerbaijan’s post-war mine threat draws global attention via Nepali media

On June 5, leading Nepali media outlet Nepalkhabar published an article titled “Mines and unexploded ordnance: The silent threat in post-war Azerbaijan”.

The article, authored by Elchin Huseynli, the Ambassador of Azerbaijan to India and a non-resident Ambassador to Nepal, aims to draw international attention to a major security, humanitarian, and development challenge confronting Azerbaijan, Caliber.Az reports.

The article explains that since 1991, the territories once occupied by Armenian armed forces — including the Karabakh region and seven adjacent districts — were heavily mined. As a result, Azerbaijan is now among the most mine-contaminated countries in the world.

An estimated 1.5 million landmines and unexploded ordnance remain spread across more than 13 per cent of the country’s territory. This has become a serious barrier to the restoration and reconstruction of the liberated areas and to the safe and dignified return of internally displaced persons. Since the end of the Second Karabakh War, around 400 Azerbaijani citizens have been killed or injured by landmine explosions.

Despite Azerbaijan’s repeated calls for Armenia to hand over maps of mined areas, Armenia long denied the existence of such maps. When maps were eventually provided under international pressure, they covered only a fraction of the mined zones and proved to be only 25 per cent accurate. Notably, over 55 per cent of recent mine incidents have occurred outside the areas indicated in the maps.

The article underscores Azerbaijan’s extensive demining efforts, awareness campaigns, and support for mine victims. The Azerbaijan National Agency for Mine Action (ANAMA) employs advanced technologies and tools to ensure the safe and efficient clearance of mines. Although over 95 per cent of these operations are funded by the Azerbaijani government and have led to notable progress, the article stresses that the scale of the problem requires far greater international political and practical support, as current external contributions remain inadequate.

Additionally, the article details Azerbaijan’s global advocacy and initiatives addressing the mine threat. It highlights that humanitarian demining has been designated by the Azerbaijani government as the country’s 18th National Sustainable Development Goal (SDG). Efforts are also underway to push for international recognition of mine action as the 18th Global SDG under the United Nations framework.