On June 11, 2025, the Pakistani newspaper The Nation published a column by commentator Tazeen Akhtar under the title Peace with Land Mines? The article addresses the humanitarian catastrophe caused by land mines in the liberated territories of Azerbaijan and delivers a sharp critique of Armenia’s continued refusal to hand over minefield maps, despite repeated appeals from the international community over the past several years.
According to the report, Azerbaijan remains the most heavily mine-affected country in the world. Five years after the 2020 ceasefire, landmines continue to claim lives and impede post-conflict recovery in the liberated territories. In total, 361 people have fallen victim to mines since the end of hostilities, including 68 fatalities and hundreds of severe injuries. Among the victims are children and women.
The mines, planted not only during the war but even after the ceasefire agreement, severely obstruct infrastructure reconstruction, agriculture, and environmental restoration. In many areas, Armenia planted explosives before withdrawing but has refused to provide minefield maps, a move the article describes as a deliberate act of sabotage.
Azerbaijan has mobilized national resources for mine clearance, deploying advanced technologies and clearing over 200,000 hectares of land. However, full demining remains impossible without Armenian cooperation. According to official figures, nearly 120,000 mines and unexploded ordnances have been detected and neutralized so far.
The environmental dimension of the crisis has drawn international attention. At the COP29 climate summit held in Baku, a dedicated session addressed the ecological consequences of landmines, including chemical contamination, soil degradation, and erosion in uncultivated areas.
To institutionalize the response, Azerbaijan declared humanitarian demining its 18th National Sustainable Development Goal and is working to secure its recognition as the 18th Global SDG at the United Nations. It also initiated the creation of a Special Contact Group on Humanitarian Demining under the Non-Aligned Movement in 2023.
In the same year, Azerbaijan led the adoption of a resolution titled The Impact of Mines on Cultural Heritage during the 15th meeting of states parties to the 1954 Hague Convention. As a follow-up, a major conference on the topic was held in Aghdam in May 2025.
These efforts underscore Azerbaijan’s determination to clear its territory of mines and restore safe living conditions. Meanwhile, Armenia’s ongoing refusal to provide accurate minefield data continues to cause civilian casualties and block recovery initiatives. The article calls on the international community—and especially Armenia’s allies—to take a principled stand and compel Yerevan to release the maps for the sake of peace and human security.
