The Armenian Revolutionary Federation (ARF) blamed Behaeddin Shakir for involvement in the Armenian–Azerbaijani War, specifically in the communications between the Azerbaijani political party Musavat and the CUP. In the initial stages of this war, the ARF (Armenian Militia) was engaged in armed confrontation with the Azerbaijani forces during which many Muslims were expelled from Baku or went underground. The tide turned when Enver Pasha (War Minister of the Ottoman Empire) began to move forward with the newly established Army of Islam.