Afghanistan-Pakistan Skirmishes

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The Afghanistan-Pakistan Skirmishes were fighting between the armed forces of Afghanistan and Pakistan that began on May 13th 2007.

Pakistan's military spokesman Major-General Waheed Arshad, said Afghanistan had initiated hostilities because the Afghan National Army opened "unprovoked firing" on five or six border posts in the Kurram Agency tribal region in northwest Pakistan.”[1]

Contents

[edit] Background

Main article: Foreign_relations_of_Pakistan#Afghanistan

Prior to the conflict, Afghanistan had long failed to control Anti-Pakistani sentiments within its borders, and Pakistan had a history of interference in Afghanistan in response to militant attacks by Pushtun Tribesmen. Afghanistan had engaged in cross-border attacks from across the border into Bajaur, Pakistan in a foolhardy, unsuccessful attempt to manipulate events in that area as far back as 1960.[2]

Since the creation of Pakistan, Afghanistan has tried relentlessly to press the Pushtunistan issue, It has tried using a propaganda war as well as military force but the Afghan military forces were routed by the Pakistan military.[2] This situation exacerbated demographic tensions over the Durand Line which divided Pushtun tribes between Afghanistan and Pakistan.Concurrently, The Soviet Union began a nearly 10 year military occupation of Afghanistan in 1979.[3] The Soviet Union's 1979 invasion of Afghanistan also greatly exacerbated the security of Pakistan as well forcibly expelling millions of Afghan refugees to Pakistan - believed to be the largest refugee population in the world caused severe social and economic degradation of Pakistani culture.[4] During the occupation rebels named "Mujahideen" found support from a variety of sources including Cold War allies the United States and Pakistan as well as from some other Muslim nations in the context of the Cold War. Due to the high cost and ultimate futility of the occupation the Soviet Union which began its occupation of Afghanistan on December 25, 1979 began to withdraw troops began on May 15, 1988, and formally ended its occupation on February 15, 1989 by signing the Geneva Accords (1988). It's generally thought that the economic costs and military failure of the war were a major contributor to the collapse of the Soviet Union in 1991.[5]

[edit] Beginning of conflict

At around 9:00 AM local time (06:00 UTC) On Suday 13 May 2007, Afghanistan launched attacks towards five or six Pakistani military positions in the Kurram tribal region in northwest Pakistan.[6]At the same time Afghanistan alleges, a Pakistani military ground contingent crossed the border more than a mile into Afghanistan‘s Paktia province and killed two Afghan civilians on the Afghan side of the Afghanistan-Pakistan border.The Afghan military spokesman Gen. Mohammad Zahir Azimi also alleged the Pakistani military of using artillery, saying the alleged attack was a clear violation.[7] The Pakistan military spokesman Maj. Gen. Waheed Arshad denied Pakistani forces had crossed the border and instead accused the Afghan military of firing on Pakistani positions and called the firing "unprovoked and without any reason." He further stated that Pakistani forces returned fire only after being attacked by the Afghan military and that 7 Afghan soldiers had been killed whilst 3 Pakistani soldiers had been wounded. [8]

General Zahir Azimi, The Afghan defence ministry spokesman stated that Pakistani troops had not only crossed into Afghanistan but that they attempted to position themselves permanently in the Jaji district of the southeastern Paktia province, He further stated that two of the Afghan civilians killed were children and that two policeman were also injured, whilst the police chief for Paktia province Abdul Rahman Sarjang stated that one policeman was killed and a further 3 wounded. The Afghan defence ministry spokesman also stated that thousands of local people joined the Afghan military and fired on Pakistani military helicopters opearting on Afghan territory and suggested that one Pakistani helicopter was destroyed by MANPAD missiles, While Pakistan Army spokesman Major General Waheed Arshad maintained that neither side crossed the border and no helicopter was shot down.[9]

[edit] Afghanistan action

Afghan "civilians" are alleged to have shot at a Pakistan army helicopter similar to this one.
Afghan "civilians" are alleged to have shot at a Pakistan army helicopter similar to this one.

[edit] Timeline

  • On 13 May 2007 Afghanistan launched attacks on Pakistani military outposts near Bajaur in the Federally Administered Tribal Areas (FATA) of Pakistan, and other areas. Afghan ground soldiers entered Pakistan and attacked Pakistan military outposts. Pakistani forces acting in self-defence killed seven Afghan solders, Whilst two Pakistanis were wounded.
  • On 13 May 2007 Afghan civilians fire on Pakistani helicopters with MANPAD missiles, The Afghan defence spokesman maintained that one Pakistani helicopter was destroyed whilst the Pakistan army spokesman Major General Waheed Arshad denied any such incident and that no helicopter was destroyed.

[edit] Pakistan action

[edit] Timeline

  • On 13 May 2007 After Afghan ground soldiers entered Pakistan and attacked Pakistani military outposts. Pakistani forces acting in self-defence killed seven Afghan solders, Pakistan further responded with massive artillery fire on targets in Afghanistan. [10]

[edit] Casualties

[edit] Afghan National Army

There are currently conflicting casualty reports regarding Afghan military casualty figures and are at this point difficult to ascertain, There are claims and estimates by different groups and individuals ranging from 4 to 6 or 7.

  • Seven Afghan Soldiers killed by the Pakistan Military[11]

[edit] Afghan civilians

[edit] Pakistan Military

[edit] Pakistani civilians

There is a new report saying 3 civilians have been killed from accidental shooting near kabul.

[edit] International action and reaction

There is yet to be any comments made by the international community on the subject.

[edit] See also

[edit] References

  1. ^ "Afghanistan launches open war on Pakistan", Reuters, 2007. Retrieved on 2007. 
  2. ^ a b Pashtunistan Crisis 1960-1963
  3. ^ Valenta, Jiri (1980). “From Prague to Kabul: The Soviet Style of Invasion”.
  4. ^ REFUGEES FROM AFGHANISTAN:The world's largest single refugee group
  5. ^ [Jyotsna Bakshi, ‘Russian Policy towards South Asia’ http://www.asiamedia.ucla.edu/Deadline/IndiaRussiaPRC Jyotsna Bakshi, ‘Russian Policy towards South Asia’]
  6. ^ "Up to 7 Afghan troops killed in Pakistan clash", Reuters, MAY 13 2007. 
  7. ^ "Pakistani, Afghan troops clash at border", Associated Press, MAY 13 2007. 
  8. ^ "Up to 7 Afghan troops killed in Pakistan clash", Reuters, MAY 13 2007. 
  9. ^ "Heavy clash between Pakistan, Afghan forces on border", indiaenews, MAY 13 2007. 
  10. ^ indiaenews. "Pakistan, Afghan forces on border". Retrieved May 13, 2007.
  11. ^ Up to 7 Afghan troops killed in Pakistan clash

[edit] External links


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