Battle of Bajaur

Last updated

Battle of Bajaur (Operation Sherdil)
Part of the Insurgency in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa
Pakistan NWFP FATA Bajaur.svg
Bajaur is the yellow colored region
Date7 August 2008 – 28 February 2009
(6 months and 3 weeks)
Location
Bajaur, Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa Province, Pakistan
Result Pakistani victory
Belligerents
Flag of Pakistan.svg Pakistan Flag of Tehrik-i-Taliban.svg TTP
Flag of al-Qaeda.svg Al-Qaeda
Tnsm-flag.svg TNSM
Commanders and leaders
Flag of the Pakistani Army.svg MG Tariq Khan [1]
Flag of the Pakistani Army.svg B.Gen. Abid Mumtaz [1]
Flag of the Pakistani Army.svg B.Gen. Zafar ul haq
Flag of the Pakistani Army.svg Col Nauman Saeed 		Flag of Tehrik-i-Taliban.svg Faqir Mohammed
Flag of al-Qaeda.svg Abu Saeed Al-Masri
Units involved

Flag of the Pakistani Army.svg  Pakistan Army

Air Force Ensign of Pakistan.svg  Pakistan Air Force

Flag of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa.svg FCKP (N) 		Flag of Tehrik-i-Taliban.svg TTP
Flag of al-Qaeda.svg Al-Qaeda
Tnsm-flag.svg TNSM
Strength
9,000–15,000 [1] ~4,000 [1]
Casualties and losses
30 killed and 4 wounded
(Pakistan army)		 1,500 killed and 2,000 wounded
(Militants)

The Battle of Bajaur (English: Operation Lion Heart), also known as Operation Sherdil, was a military campaign in the Bajaur region of Pakistan. It was conducted on 7 August 2008 by the Frontier Corps and Infantry Brigade of Pakistan army. The operation was primarily launched to end the political movement of the Tehrik-e-Taliban Pakistan. Bajaur area was administered by Tehrik-e-Taliban Pakistan until 2007, and it remained Al-Qaeda's central command and control for carrying out activities in Northeast Afghanistan and Kunar province. [2] [3] Recent reports indicate that ongoing conflict has newly displaced an estimate of 7,000 people between 3 and 4 March in Nurgal district. [4]

Contents

Ambush in Bajaur

During the early days of August in 2008, a check-post was established by the Frontier Corps to seize control of the Afghan-Pakistan border crossing over Tehrik-e-Taliban. Check-post was constructed near the town of Loyesam which is 12 km away from Khaar. [5] [6] Loyesam (or Loisam) is a strategic position that controls passage into Afghanistan's Kunar province. The militant attacks caused heavy casualties to the Pakistani army. Eventually, the army was relocated to Khar town. [2] [7] [8]

Background

Several days later, the Frontier Corps began a large-scale offensive under the command of Major-General Tariq Khan, codenamed Operation Sherdil (Lion heart), intending to regain control of Bajaur from the Taliban. [9] About 8,000 troops belonging to the FC and Army, backed by Cobra attack helicopters and fighter jets were deployed that attacked Taliban hideouts. To support the Army, the Pakistan Air Force responded with aggressive air campaign. Pakistani military sources revealed that the army was surprised by the resistance of the insurgents. Taliban used advanced tactics to fight prepared defense system. [10]

By the end of the year, the Army claimed that it had killed more than 1,000 militants, including the foreign commander of Al Qaeda, an Egyptian called Abu Saeed Al-Masri. [11] The Army suffered 20 casualties. [12] The military encouraged local tribes to rebel against the Taliban by raising the lashkars (tribal militias) to fight alongside the government forces. The Salarzai tribe reportedly counted 4,000 armed fighters, responded favorably to this initiative. [1] On 7 October, the Salarzai elders announced that they had cleared their tribal territory of militants, and requested the deployment of government troops to consolidate the gains they had made. [13]

According to several sources, the Islamabad Marriott Hotel bombing might have occurred in retaliation for the military offensive in Bajaur. [10]

On 8 October, during a briefing to the Parliament, the military announced that the operation killed 2,744 militants, including 321 foreigners, and caused 1,400 casualties to the militants. [14] On 25 October, the Pakistan forces reportedly recaptured Taliban militants in Loi Sam village. [15] About 500 militants were reportedly killed in the Bajaur area on 25 October. [16] By the end of 2008, security forces were stationed at Torghudai, Nawagai, Utmankhel, and Salarzai. By mid-2009, the security forces controlled the bulk of the Mamund and Chahrmang valleys as well. The last operation was launched in February 2010 with fresh reinforcements to mop up the last pockets of militants, including the notorious Damadola stronghold. Bajaur was ultimately declared clear in March 2010. When the operation was completed, a large number of militants surrendered before the army.

Pakistan Army's Aviation Corps used Cobra gunship attack helicopters extensively to pacify high-altitude mountain ridges occupied by the militants. AH-1 Cobra DF-ST-85-09827.JPEG
Pakistan Army's Aviation Corps used Cobra gunship attack helicopters extensively to pacify high-altitude mountain ridges occupied by the militants.

Strategic significance

The opinion of military leaders in the early stages of the battle asserted that it was a decisive confrontation of Pakistan's war against the Taliban. Military officials allegedly said the conflict "could decide the fate of other tribal areas" with Bajaur possibly being the most crucial militant stronghold outside of Waziristan.

The influx of Taliban fighters from the Kunar province across the border of Afghanistan was viewed as a further sign that dictated the nature of the fight by diverting resources away from fighting with International Security Assistance Force. [10]

Results

Pakistan Army used Type 69 tanks during Operation Sherdil in support of ground troops and Frontier Corps. Type 69-II Iraq.jpg
Pakistan Army used Type 69 tanks during Operation Sherdil in support of ground troops and Frontier Corps.

On 28 February 2009, [17] the security forces defeated the Taliban and other Islamist militants in Bajaur, which was a strategically important region on the Afghan border. Major-General Tariq Khan, who was commanding the military operations in five of the seven agencies stated that the Army and the Frontier Corps killed most militants in Bajaur, the smallest of the agencies but a major infiltration route into Afghanistan, after a six-month long offensive. The Pakistan Army killed over 1,800 militants. However, the forces suffered 30 deaths and four wounded.

Leadership

Maj Gen. Tariq Khan

Gen. Tariq Khan served as the Inspector General of the Frontier Corps during Operation Sherdil. He is known as the architect of the Battle of Bajaur. He is primarily credited with transforming the Frontier Corps into a highly efficient and professional counter-terrorism force. He supervised all operations in Bajaur. His physical presence at the forward-most positions during critical stages of the battle was an inspiration for the junior leaders and a morale booster for the troops. [18]

Brig. Abid Mumtaz

Brigadier Abid Mumtaz served as the officer commanding of Operation Sherdil in Bajaur. A commander noted for leading his troops from the front. He emerged an example of his dedication to service on 9 September 2008, when the leading forces under his command reached at Rashakai town. The militants disrupted the communication line at Nissarabad, and he chose to stay on the frontline. He personally led the frontline forces for 15 days and did not return to headquarters until communication line was restored. He was awarded[ when? ] for his gallant actions and is now serving as the Major General. Mumtaz also conducted Khyber 2 operation in Tirah Valley in 2015.

Brig. Zafar-Ul-Haq.

Brigadier Zafar-ul-Haq replaced Brig Abid Mumtaz on 24 February 2010. He launched several operations to completely wipe out the Taliban's presence in Bajaur and expanded the security forces in each area of Bajaur. Brigadier Zafar-Ul-Haq pushed the Taliban away from the local areas and has ensured safety for the local people.

Battalion Commanders

Battalion commanders who served in Operation Sherdil.

  1. Lt Col Javed Baloch & Lt Col Munawar
  2. Lt Col Anjum Saleem, Lt Col Nadir Khan, Lt Col Rashid
  3. Lt Col Asad, Lt Col Ali, Lt Col Amjad

The dedication of combatant commanders helped the Bajaul Valley to end the terrorism.[ citation needed ]

Col. Nauman Saeed

Colonel Nauman Saeed served as the operation commandant in Bajaur, where he was posted in and was due to assume command on 14 August 2008. However, owing to extraordinary circumstances, he had to leave for Bajaur on 6 August 2008. Miscreants surrounded a party that was sent to establish a post in Loesam. Nauman led the link-up unit on 8 August 2008 after the previous day's failed link attempt.

The troops were ambushed at Tankhatta, where they retaliated and held their positions for over 8 hours against well-entrenched militants to facilitate previous infiltration of the party besieged at Loesam.[ citation needed ]

Mi-17 helicopters were deployed for the logistical support and evacuation of critically wounded soldiers to the Combined Military Hospitals. Mi-17.jpg
Mi-17 helicopters were deployed for the logistical support and evacuation of critically wounded soldiers to the Combined Military Hospitals.

In another incident, the convoy of Inspector-General Frontier Corps Major-General Tariq Khan was ambushed on 9 September 2009 at Nissarabad. Col. Nauman went back to the ambush site with a tank and a Quick Response Force to extricate the crew of a vehicle that was disabled by the militants fire. His tank received multiple hits by RPG-7s and his operator suffered a bullet injury. However, they extracted the stranded vehicle along with the soldiers. He was awarded by the government for his contribution to the operation. [19]

See also

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Naseerullah Babar</span> Pakistani politician and former Army General

Major-General Naseerullah Khan Babar was a Pakistani army officer, diplomat, and politician who served as the 28th Interior Minister of Pakistan from 1993 to 1996. A member of the Pakistan Peoples Party, he also served as the 12th Governor of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Province between 1975 and 1977. He was a retired 2-star general officer in the Pakistan Army, and later career military officer-turned-statesman.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Bajaur District</span> District in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Pakistan

Bajaur District, formerly Bajaur Agency, is a district in the Malakand Division of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Province, Pakistan. Prior to 2018, Bajaur Agency was the northernmost component of the Federally Administered Tribal Areas (FATA), a semi-autonomous region along the Afghanistan–Pakistan border. In May 2018, FATA was merged into the larger Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Province (KPK) in an attempt to bring stability to the region, redesignating Bajaur Agency to Bajaur District.

Maulvi Faqir Mohammed is an Islamist militant and, until March 2012, a deputy leader of the Pakistani Taliban umbrella group Tehrik-i-Taliban Pakistan. He was reported as killed on 5 March 2010 during a helicopter gunship attack on militants by the Pakistani military although he denied the reports as false. In July 2011, he resurfaced on the air broadcasting radio shows out of Afghanistan. He was captured in Afghanistan on 17 February 2013, and released by the Afghan Taliban in 2021.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Frontier Corps</span> Pakistani paramilitary force

The Frontier Corps are a group of four paramilitary forces of Pakistan, operating in the provinces of Balochistan and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, to maintain law and order while overseeing the country's borders with Afghanistan and Iran. There are four Frontier Corps: FC KPK (North) and FC KPK (South) stationed in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province, and FC Balochistan (North) and FC Balochistan (South) stationed in Balochistan province.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Afghanistan–Pakistan border skirmishes</span> Armed clashes between Afghanistan and Pakistan since 1949

A series of occasional armed skirmishes and firefights have occurred along the Afghanistan–Pakistan border between the Afghan Armed Forces and the Pakistan Armed Forces since 1949. The latest round of hostilities between the two countries began in April 2007. Militants belonging to Tehrik-i-Taliban Pakistan and Jamaat-ul-Ahrar also use Afghanistan's territory to target Pakistani security personnel deployed along the border. The Diplomat says that the presence of terrorists belonging to Tehrik-i-Taliban Pakistan on Afghan soil is the reason for sporadic shelling of Afghanistan's territory by Pakistani security forces.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Insurgency in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa</span> Armed conflict involving Pakistan and armed militant groups

The insurgency in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, also known as the War in North-West Pakistan or Pakistan's war on terror, is an ongoing armed conflict involving Pakistan and Islamist militant groups such as the Tehrik-i-Taliban Pakistan (TTP), Jundallah, Lashkar-e-Islam (LeI), TNSM, al-Qaeda, and their Central Asian allies such as the ISIL–Khorasan (ISIL), Islamic Movement of Uzbekistan, East Turkistan Movement, Emirate of Caucasus, and elements of organized crime. Formerly a war, it is now a low-level insurgency as of 2017.

Fazal Hayat, more commonly known by his pseudonym Mullah Fazlullah, was an Islamist jihadist militant who was the leader of the Tehreek-e-Nafaz-e-Shariat-e-Mohammadi, and was the leader of the Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan in Swat Valley. He became the emir of the Tehrik-i-Taliban Pakistan in 2013, and presided over the descent of the group into factions who are often at war with each other. Fazlullah was designated by the Al-Qaida and Taliban Sanctions Committee of the Security Council in 2015, and was added to the U.S. State Department's Rewards for Justice wanted list on 7 March 2018.

Lieutenant General Muhammad Masood AslamHI (C)  HI (M)  SJ  Imtiazi Sanad  AFWC  PSC is a retired three-star general who served in the Pakistan Army for 39 years. His last post in the Army was serving as the commander of the XI Corps, fighting TTP forces in the North-West Pakistan region from 2007 to 2010. He also held the post of Colonel commandant of the Punjab Regiment from March 2008 to April 2010. Masood played a key role in the management of crucial operations against the Tehrik-i-Taliban, including directing and commanding the First Battle of Swat, operations Zalzala, Sherdil, Rah-e-Rast and Rah-e-Nijat.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Gora Prai airstrike</span>

The Gora Prai airstrike was an airstrike by the United States that resulted in the deaths of 11 paramilitary troops of the Pakistan Army Frontier Corps and 8 Taliban fighters in Pakistan's tribal areas. The attack took place late on June 10, 2008, during clashes between US coalition forces and militants from the Pakistani Taliban.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Pakistani Taliban</span> Islamist militant organization operating along the Durand Line

The Pakistani Taliban, formally called the Tehreek-e-Taliban-e-Pakistan, is an umbrella organization of various Islamist armed militant groups operating along the Afghan–Pakistani border. Formed in 2007 by Baitullah Mehsud, its current leader is Noor Wali Mehsud, who has publicly pledged allegiance to the Afghan Taliban. The Pakistani Taliban share a common ideology with the Afghan Taliban and have assisted them in the 2001–2021 war, but the two groups have separate operation and command structures.

The First Battle of Swat, also known as Operation Rah-e-Haq, was fought between Pakistan and the Tehrik-i-Taliban in late 2007 over control of the Swat District of Pakistan.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Operation Rah-e-Nijat</span> 2009 military offensive by the Pakistan Armed Forces against the Tehrik-i-Taliban

The Operation Rah-e-Nijat was a strategic offensive military operation by the unified command of Pakistan Armed Forces against the Tehrik-i-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) and their extremist allies in the South Waziristan area of the Federally Administered Tribal Areas that began on June 19, 2009; a major ground-air offensive was subsequently launched on October 17. It became the integral part of the war in Western fronts which led to the encirclement and destruction of Taliban forces in the region, although the Taliban leadership escaped to lawless areas of neighboring Afghanistan.

Lieutenant General Tariq KhanHI(M) LoM is a retired Pakistan Army general officer who was the Commander of I Strike Corps at Mangla. A war hero, he has been the Inspector General of the Frontier Corps from September 2008 till October 2010.

The Operation Zalzala, was a Pakistan Army military offensive manhunt and a counter-insurgent operation that was commenced on 18 January 2008. The operation concluded with mixed results as the army had successfully captured the area, but had failed to capture or kill Qari Hussain, the main objective of the operation.

In 2008, Pakistan saw 40 terrorist attacks, which caused 154 fatalities and 256 injuries.

The Bajaur Scouts is a paramilitary regiment of the Frontier Corps Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (North) of Pakistan, recruited locally in Bajaur District and officered by regular Pakistan Army officers. The Scouts were previously the Bajaur Levies, and served in the Bajaur, Swat, and Dir tribal areas. The force was formed in April 1961 from several units of the Khyber Rifles and Chitral Scouts. In the early 21st century, the Scouts have been involved in anti-drugs operations. In 2011-2012, the unit received a number of drug testing kits to assist in their work against drug smuggling.

On 20 January 2016, four terrorists opened fire at Bacha Khan University near Charsadda, Pakistan. It is located in the Charsadda District of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa. At least 22 people were killed and over 20 others were wounded. Over 200 students were rescued from the premises, while the terrorists were killed by security forces. The Tariq Geedar Afridi faction of the Tehrik-i-Taliban claimed responsibility for the attack.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Operation al-Mizan</span> Military invasion in North Waziristan

The Operation al-Mizan was a series of strategic military campaigns conducted by the Pakistan army and 10,000 United States special operations forces from 2002 to 2006. It continued for five years in various phases eventually, several other operations including the Operation Carlosa II. Al-Mizan was the first major operation of Pakistani troops to combat foreign militant outfits in North Waziristan of North-West Frontier Province. An estimate of 70,000 to 80,000 troops were deployed in affected areas.

The Frontier Corps Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (North) (Urdu: فرنٹیئر کور خیبر پختونخواہ (شمالی), reporting name: FCKP(N)), is a federal paramilitary force in Pakistan, operating in the northern part of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province, overseeing the country's borders with Afghanistan and assisting with maintaining law and order. It is one of four Frontier Corps with the others being: FC Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (South) stationed in the south of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province, and FC Balochistan (North) and FC Balochistan (South) stationed in Balochistan province.

Operation Azm-e-Istehkam is a counter-insurgency operation launched by the government of Pakistan in June 2024. The operation was approved by prime minister Shehbaz Sharif. The operation will include not only military action, but also socio-economic uplift to deter extremism.

References

  1. 1 2 3 4 5 Hussain, Zahid (30 September 2008). "Pakistan Turns to Tribal Militias". The Wall Street Journal. Archived from the original on 4 October 2008. Retrieved 7 October 2008.
  2. 1 2 Roggio, Bill (10 August 2008). "Pakistani troops retreat after Taliban onslaught in Bajaur". The Long War Journal. Archived from the original on 19 September 2008. Retrieved 9 October 2008.
  3. ↑ Gall, Carlotta (14 July 2008). "9 Americans Die in Afghan Attack". The New York Times. Retrieved 26 April 2010.
  4. ↑ "Afghanistan: Update on the situation in Kunar Province - Flash Update (09 March 2020)". ReliefWeb. 9 March 2020. Retrieved 10 March 2020.
  5. ↑ Khan, Hasbanullah (AFP) (8 August 2008). "Bajaur battle kills 10 troops, 25 militants". Daily Times. Archived from the original on 7 October 2008. Retrieved 24 August 2008.
  6. ↑ Cogan, James (23 August 2008). "Military offensive displaces 300,000 in north-west Pakistan". World Socialist Web Site. Archived from the original on 26 August 2008. Retrieved 24 August 2008.
  7. ↑ Jane Perlez, Pir Zubair Shah (10 August 2008). "Taliban Force Pakistani Troops From Tribal Area". The New York Times. Retrieved 10 August 2008.
  8. ↑ Khan, Habib (10 August 2008). "Pakistani forces bomb houses near Afghan border". Associated Press. Retrieved 10 August 2008.[ dead link ]
  9. ↑ "Speech in Urdu". Archived from the original on 20 August 2016. Retrieved 18 August 2016.
  10. 1 2 3 Gall, Carlotta; Khan, Ismail (22 September 2008). "Battle of Bajaur: A critical test for Pakistan's military". International Herald Tribune. Archived from the original on 26 September 2008. Retrieved 9 October 2008.
  11. ↑ "Battle of Bajaur a crucial test for Pakistan". AFP. 27 September 2008. Archived from the original on 4 October 2012. Retrieved 9 October 2008.
  12. ↑ "AP IMPACT: Pakistan offensive shows slow success - Yahoo! News". Archived from the original on 15 December 2008. Retrieved 14 December 2008.
  13. ↑ Anwarullah, Khan (7 October 2008). "Bajaur areas cleared of militants, claim elders: Deployment of security men sought". Dawn. Archived from the original on 12 October 2008. Retrieved 9 October 2008.
  14. ↑ Bano, Masooda (14 October 2008). "Briefing parliament". The News International. Archived from the original on 17 June 2009. Retrieved 14 October 2008.
  15. ↑ http://ukpress.google.com/article/ALeqM5hZu3Qpjdvqh8valFIKmIDGT_F_dg [ dead link ]
  16. ↑ "Pakistani troops capture militant stronghold". Archived from the original on 28 October 2008. Retrieved 25 October 2008.
  17. ↑ Talibowie strictly prowincję Badżur Archived 27 September 2011 at the Wayback Machine rp.pl
  18. ↑ Archive | Your Source of News on the World Wide Web. Dawn.Com. Retrieved 19 October 2011.
  19. ↑ http://www.dawn.com/wps/wcm/connect/dawn-content-library/dawn/the-newspaper/national/military-awards-announced-589rp.pl [ dead link ]

This page is based on this Wikipedia article
Text is available under the CC BY-SA 4.0 license; additional terms may apply.
Images, videos and audio are available under their respective licenses.