MANAGING INTERNATIONAL CONFLICTS: INSIGHTS FROM NAGORNO-KARABAKH FOR PAKISTAN

Abstract

The Nagorno-Karabakh conflict, a protracted territorial and ethnic dispute between Armenia and Azerbaijan, provides a critical case study for understanding conflict management in complex geopolitical environments. Despite decades of international mediation and multiple ceasefire attempts, the conflict remains unresolved due to deep-seated historical grievances, strategic stalemates, and ineffective diplomacy. This study analyzes the conflict using the Thomas-Kilmann Conflict Mode Instrument (TKI), which classifies conflict-handling approaches into avoiding, accommodating, compromising, competing, and collaborating styles, with the aim of deriving lessons relevant for Pakistan, which faces similar challenges in a volatile South Asian context.

Employing a mixed-methods design, quantitative data were gathered via structured questionnaires from students of international relations, political science, and defense studies at major academic institutions, while qualitative insights were obtained through semi-structured interviews with a senior academic, supplemented by secondary literature, official reports, and media analyses. Findings reveal that Azerbaijan’s competitive strategy, particularly during the 2020 conflict, leveraged Turkish-supplied drones and precision warfare to shift territorial control. Conversely, Armenia’s accommodating and compromising approach, combined with the OSCE Minsk Group’s limited effectiveness, hindered sustainable peace efforts. Persistent mistrust, rigid negotiation frameworks, and fragmented diplomatic initiatives further obstructed resolution.

The study highlights the significance of strategic innovation, credible deterrence, and adaptive conflict resolution mechanisms. For Pakistan, these insights emphasize the need for a proactive, multi-dimensional approach to conflict management that strengthens national security, enhances diplomatic credibility, and ensures preparedness amid regional instability.