Azerbaijani Defense Minister Zakir Hasanov announced an increase in the number of soldiers serving in the country's Armed Forces after the Second Karabakh War‌, Interfax.az reports.

Hasanov noted on Monday, June 27 that after the Second Karabakh War, Azerbaijan President Ilham Aliyev instructed the military to bring the country's army to "a new level".

According to him, Aliyev wants the Azerbaijani army to represent "a small-scale model of the Turkish Armed Forces", as well as to provide the troops with the latest weapons and military equipment.

Also Monday, Aliyev said Baku has signed new contracts for the purchase of "the most modern weapons."

Aliyev and Hasanov made the remarks during a visit to the Karvachar region, which came under Azerbaijani control during the Second Karabakh war.