September 27, 2025 Baku (Nosheen ): The people of Azerbaijan today commemorate the fifth anniversary of the start of the 44-day Patriotic War, which restored the country’s territorial integrity and ended nearly three decades of illegal occupation by Armenia.
On September 27, 2020, following repeated military provocations by Armenia, the Armed Forces of the Republic of Azerbaijan launched retaliatory actions in full accordance with the right of self-defense and international humanitarian law. These operations marked the beginning of the Patriotic War, which safeguarded Azerbaijani civilians and ended Armenia’s almost 30-year-long military aggression.
The historic victory, achieved under the leadership of President Ilham Aliyev, Supreme Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces, restored the fundamental rights of nearly one million displaced Azerbaijanis and enforced long-standing UN Security Council resolutions of 1993.
Pakistan was among the nations that firmly supported Azerbaijan during the Patriotic War, with clear political backing and strong statements by senior Pakistani officials, which gave additional strength to Azerbaijan’s just cause.
In September 2023, Azerbaijan conducted swift counter-terrorism measures in Karabakh to dismantle illegal Armenian armed formations and reassert full sovereignty over its territories. The end of occupation revealed the scale of Armenia’s decades-long unlawful activities, including landmines, destruction and appropriation of Azerbaijan’s historical, cultural, and religious heritage, exploitation of natural resources, and devastation of infrastructure. Azerbaijan continues to call for Armenia’s accountability under international humanitarian and human rights law.
Following its Victory, Azerbaijan launched extensive restoration and reconstruction programs in Karabakh and East Zangezur. Thousands of displaced citizens have already returned to their ancestral lands as new infrastructure, housing, and services are rapidly being built.
Azerbaijan has consistently pursued a peace agenda. Its efforts culminated in August 2025 with the signing of a Joint Declaration between Azerbaijan and Armenia in Washington, witnessed by the United States, marking an historic step toward a lasting peace agreement. The initialing of this peace accord offers hope for stability, development, and prosperity not only in the South Caucasus but also across a wider geography.
On this solemn day, the people of Azerbaijan honor with deep respect and gratitude the memory of the martyrs who sacrificed their lives for the sovereignty and territorial integrity of their homeland. Their heroism paved the way for a new era of justice, peace, and progress.