Q. Consider the following pairs :

1. Regions often mentioned in news North Kivu and Ituri : War between Armenia and Azerbaijan
2. Nagorno-Karabakh : Insurgency in Mozambique
3. Kherson and Zaporizhzhia : Dispute between Israel and Lebanon

How many of the above pairs are correctly matched? (UPSC Prelims 2023)
Answer: None
Notes: The correct answer is [D] None. All three pairs are incorrectly matched based on current geopolitical conflicts and regional geography.

• North Kivu and Ituri (Pair 1 – Incorrect): These provinces are located in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC). They are frequently in the news due to long-standing internal conflict involving various rebel groups (such as the M23) and ethnic violence, not the Armenia-Azerbaijan war.
• Nagorno-Karabakh (Pair 2 – Incorrect): This is the central flashpoint of the conflict between Armenia and Azerbaijan. While internationally recognized as part of Azerbaijan, it was controlled by ethnic Armenians for decades until recent military offensives by Azerbaijan led to its reintegration. It has no connection to Mozambique.
• Kherson and Zaporizhzhia (Pair 3 – Incorrect): These are strategic regions in Ukraine. They have been major focal points of the Russia-Ukraine war since 2022, particularly regarding frontline combat and the control of the Zaporizhzhia Nuclear Power Plant. The dispute between Israel and Lebanon typically centers on the Blue Line border or maritime boundaries in the Mediterranean.

Historical Context: The insurgency in Mozambique primarily occurs in the northern province of Cabo Delgado. The territorial disputes between Israel and Lebanon often involve the Shebaa Farms or offshore gas fields.