2024 Afghanistan–Pakistan skirmishes
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2024 Afghanistan–Pakistan skirmishes | ||||||||
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Part of Afghanistan-Pakistan skirmishes – Insurgency in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and Insurgency in Balochistan | ||||||||
The international border between Afghanistan and Pakistan. | ||||||||
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Belligerents | ||||||||
Afghanistan | Pakistan |
Pakistani Taliban BLA (alleged)[1] | ||||||
Commanders and leaders | ||||||||
Hibatullah Akhundzada Hasan Akhund |
Asif Ali Zardari Shehbaz Sharif General Asim Munir Zaheer Ahmad Babar Adm. Naveed Ashraf |
Noor Wali Mehsud Sehra alias Janan † Abdullah Mehsud Bashir Zeb | ||||||
Units involved | ||||||||
Pakistani Taliban militants
BLA militants
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TTP forces BLA forces | |||||||
Casualties and losses | ||||||||
Total: 1 killed Border clashes: 1 Afghan army soldier killed |
Total: 27 killed or wounded Border clashes: 1 Pakistani soldier killed 2 Pakistani soldiers injured Subsequent militant attacks: 8 Pakistani soldiers killed 7 Pakistani policemen killed 3 Pakistani soldiers wounded 6 Policemen wounded |
Total Militant Casualties: 61 killed or wounded 14 BLA militants killed 37 TTP-affiliated militants killed (Pakistani claim) 10 TTP militants injured (Pakistani claim) Total Civilian Casualties: 62 killed or wounded 8 Afghan civilians killed (Afghan claim) 5 Chinese civilians killed 13 Pakistani civilians killed 36 Pakistani civilians wounded |
The 2024 Afghanistan–Pakistan skirmishes were a series of armed clashes consisting of cross-border airstrikes and exchanges of gunfire between Afghanistan and Pakistan. The conflict also separately includes the BLA, and Pakistani Taliban. The skirmishes took place over many locations along the Afghanistan-Pakistan border, including North Waziristan, South Waziristan, Wana, Dera Ismail Khan, Shangla, Khost, and Paktika.[5] Subsequent attacks were also launched in Turbat and Gwadar in Balochistan province, by the Balochistan Liberation Army. Militant attacks on CPEC and Pakistani military bases accommodating US aircraft pose a threat to Chinese and American interests in Pakistan.[6][7][8]
These skirmishes mark the second round of air strikes by Pakistan on the sovereign soil of Afghanistan in a period less than two years. The first similar Pakistani airstrikes on Afghan soil came in 2022.[9]
Background
[edit]While Pakistan has been accused of supporting the Afghan Taliban in the past, after the Taliban returned to power in 2021, Afghanistan and Pakistan have repeatedly broken out border conflicts.[10] The Pakistani government accuses the Afghan Taliban authorities of harboring the Pakistani Taliban rebels in its growing insurgency.[11]
North Waziristan attack
[edit]On 16 March 2024, militants detonated a truck bomb and fired at Pakistani soldiers at a border checkpost. Five Pakistani soldiers were killed in the truck bombing, and two more were killed in the firing. Six attackers were also killed, according to Pakistan Army, who stated that the attackers used Afghanistan as a base for the attack. A militant group known as Jaish-e-Fursan-e-Muhammad took responsibility for the attack; Pakistani officials believe the members to be part of the Pakistani Taliban (TTP).[12][13] Afghanistan led by the Taliban denied that the perpetrators were from their territory.[14] On 17 March 2024, President of Pakistan Asif Ali Zardari vowed strong retaliation against perpetrators of the attack.[15]
Khost and Paktika airstrikes
[edit]On 18 March 2024, in response to the attack from Afghanistan, Pakistan Air Force carried out two intelligence based airstrikes on Afghanistan's eastern border provinces of Khost and Paktika. The Afghan government claim that Pakistan killed five women and three children.[16] Pakistan denies this, claiming that it killed terrorists instead while targeting the Hafiz Gul Bahadur militant group, a splinter organization of the Pakistani Taliban, and that it had successfully killed Sehra alias Janan, a high-value target commander. Another commander, Abdullah Mehsud, was claimed to have been killed, but later released a video refuting the claim. It was also reported that Mehsud's house was targeted in which his wife and a minor son was killed. Pakistan went on to blame the Pakistani Taliban and its splinter militias for the deaths of hundreds of Pakistani civilians, and claimed that they used Afghanistan as a base and that they had support from within the Taliban.[17][18]
Land border clashes
[edit]In response to the airstrikes, the Afghan Defense Ministry stated it was targeting numerous Pakistani positions across the border.[14] Mortar firing from the Afghan side injured more than four civilians and three military personnel in Kurram District.[19] A Pakistani captain was also killed and 2 other soldiers injured by the shelling.[20] Taliban officials did not disclose their losses, however, the local Afghans reported the death of a soldier of the Afghan army in the clashes. Skirmishes were also reported in the hilly areas surrounding the Angoor Adda border crossing of South Waziristan but no casualties were reported .[21] It was also reported that in the areas around Wanna, the artillery munitions struck close to the bunkers on both sides of the border but no casualties were reported.[21]
Subsequent attacks
[edit]Gwadar attack
[edit]On March 20, separatist militants belonging to Balochistan Liberation Army attacked the Gwadar port complex. The attack failed due to the rapid response of the Pakistani security forces. The clash killed eight BLA militants and two Pakistani soldiers. The Chief Minister of Balochistan claimed that the BLA attackers came from Afghanistan and were provided shelter by the Afghan government.[22]
Dera Ismail Khan attack
[edit]On 22 March, a suicide bomber rammed his vehicle into a military convoy passing through Dera Ismail Khan; this attack resulted in the death of two Pakistani soldiers and wounding of 15 others.[23] In response to this attack Pakistan vowed a strong retaliation against terrorism.[24]
Turbat Naval base attack
[edit]On 25 March, Balochistan Liberation Army's Majeed Brigade attacked Pakistan's second largest Naval Base PNS Siddique in Turbat which houses American as well as Chinese aircraft.[6] This attack was foiled by Pakistani Security forces.[25] In this attack, 6 BLA militants were killed by the Frontier Corps outside the perimeter of the base while one Pakistani soldier was killed.[26]
Shangla bombing
[edit]On 26 March 2024, in Shangla District, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Pakistan, a suicide bomber attacked a bus transporting five Chinese laborers and their Pakistani driver on their way to the Dasu Dam, killing all of them.[27][28][29][30][31][32][33][34] Pakistan police detained more than 12 people, including some Afghan nationals. But the Taliban government in Afghanistan has repeatedly denied giving safe haven to militants.[35]
References
[edit]- ^ "Eight militants who attacked Pakistan's strategic Gwadar port killed — chief minister". Arab News.pk. 20 March 2024. Retrieved 20 March 2024.
- ^ "Pakistan-Taliban attacks updates: Exchange of fire at border after 8 killed". Al Jazeera. 19 March 2024. Retrieved 4 April 2024.
- ^ "Fighting halted on Afghanistan-Pakistan border after skirmishes: Taliban". The Hindu. AFP. 19 March 2024. ISSN 0971-751X.
- ^ Javed, Hussain (20 March 2024). "'Relative calm' follows skirmishes on Afghan frontier". DAWN.COM. Retrieved 4 April 2024.
- ^ "Cousins at war Pakistan Afghan ties strained after cross border attacks". Al Jazeera. 19 March 2024. Archived from the original on 19 March 2024. Retrieved 19 March 2024.
- ^ "Attack in Pakistan's Gwadar strikes near heart of China's interests". Nikkei Asia. Retrieved 4 April 2024.
- ^ Abdul, Basit (29 March 2024). "Surge in Attacks on Chinese Nationals, Projects Amid Pakistan's Dire Security Situation". The Diplomat. Retrieved 4 April 2024.
- ^ "Pakistan's Twin Taliban Problem". United States Institute of Peace. Retrieved 26 March 2024.
- ^ Lynne, O’Donnell. "The Taliban Want a Piece of Pakistan". Foreign Policy. Retrieved 20 February 2024.
- ^ Siddique, Abubakar. "Tensions Increase Between Pakistan, Afghan Taliban Despite Historical Ties". RadioFreeEurope/RadioLiberty. Retrieved 3 April 2023.
- ^ "Militants attack Pakistan soldiers in North Waziristan". AP News. 18 March 2024. Archived from the original on 19 March 2024. Retrieved 18 March 2024.
- ^ Mona, Farag (18 March 2024). "Taliban strikes back after Pakistan's deadly attack in Afghanistan". The National. Archived from the original on 20 March 2024. Retrieved 18 March 2024.
- ^ a b "Pakistan carried out two air strikes inside Afghanistan, killed 8 people: Taliban". Reuters. 18 March 2024. Archived from the original on 19 March 2024. Retrieved 18 March 2024.
- ^ "Zardari vows strong retaliation against intruders". The Express Tribune. 17 March 2024. Retrieved 26 March 2024.
- ^ "Taliban says it hit back at Pakistan military after air strikes in Afghanistan kill 8". Reuters. 18 March 2024. Archived from the original on 19 March 2024. Retrieved 20 March 2024.
- ^ Khan, Tahir; Hussain, Javid; Shirazi, Iftikhar; Momand, Abdullah (18 March 2024). "Pakistan carried out intelligence-based anti-terrorist operations in Afghanistan, FO confirms". DAWN.COM. Retrieved 4 April 2024.
- ^ "Several killed in Pakistani air strikes on Afghanistan, says Kabul". France 24. 18 March 2024. Retrieved 4 April 2024.
- ^ "Pakistan-Taliban attacks: Live exchange of fire at border after 8 killed". Al Jazeera. 18 March 2024. Archived from the original on 20 March 2024. Retrieved 18 March 2024.
- ^ "Afghan govt spokesperson says provinces bordering Pakistan hit by airstrikes, claims 8 killed". Dawn. 18 March 2024. Archived from the original on 19 March 2024. Retrieved 18 March 2024.
- ^ a b Hussain, Javed (20 March 2024). "'Relative calm' follows skirmishes on Afghan frontier". DAWN.COM. Retrieved 26 March 2024.
- ^ Hussain, Abid. "Pakistan's Gwadar port attacked, eight armed fighters killed". Al Jazeera. Retrieved 26 March 2024.
- ^ "Two soldiers martyred in DI Khan suicide blast". Pakistan Today. 22 March 2024. Retrieved 26 March 2024.
- ^ Khan, Iftikhar A. (22 March 2024). "PM vows to wipe out terrorism after 2 soldiers martyred in DI Khan suicide attack". DAWN.COM. Retrieved 26 March 2024.
- ^ Behram, Baloch; Saleem, Shahid (26 March 2024). "Attack on navy base in Turbat 'foiled'". DAWN.COM. Retrieved 4 April 2024.
- ^ "Pakistan naval air base in Balochistan comes under terrorist attack; 6 attackers killed". The Economic Times. 26 March 2024. ISSN 0013-0389. Retrieved 4 April 2024.
- ^ "Pakistani police say 5 Chinese nationals and their local driver were killed in a suicide attack". AP News. 26 March 2024. Archived from the original on 27 March 2024. Retrieved 26 March 2024.
- ^ "Five Chinese nationals among six killed in suicide bomb attack in Pakistan". Al Jazeera. Archived from the original on 26 March 2024. Retrieved 26 March 2024.
- ^ "Suicide Bombing Kills 5 Chinese Citizens in Pakistan". Voice of America. 26 March 2024. Archived from the original on 27 March 2024. Retrieved 26 March 2024.
- ^ "5 Chinese nationals killed in suicide bomb attack in Pakistan". Hindustan Times. 26 March 2024. Archived from the original on 27 March 2024. Retrieved 26 March 2024.
- ^ "Pakistan: 5 Chinese workers killed in bombing". DW News. Archived from the original on 27 March 2024. Retrieved 26 March 2024.
- ^ "Five Chinese nationals killed in suicide bomb attack in Pakistan". Times of India. Archived from the original on 26 March 2024. Retrieved 26 March 2024.
- ^ "Five Chinese Nationals killed in Pakistan bomb blast". WION. 26 March 2024. Archived from the original on 27 March 2024. Retrieved 26 March 2024.
- ^ "5 Chinese nationals killed in suicide bombing northwest Pakistan". AA. Archived from the original on 27 March 2024. Retrieved 26 March 2024.
- ^ "Pakistan Police Detain 12 Over Bombing Of Chinese Workers". Barron's. AFP. Retrieved 2 April 2024.