Afghanistan–Pakistan Skirmishes

Infobox Military Conflict
conflict= .
Date= May 13th 2007 - May 17th 2007
Place= Pakistan-Afghan border
Result= Afghan aggression on Pakistan Army stopped.
combatant1= flag|Pakistan
combatant2= flag|Afghanistan
Commander1=
Commander2=
Strenght1= 80,000+ troops
Strenght2= 25,000 - 30,000 troops
Casualties1= 2 injured
Casualties2= 7 killed, 10 injured

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.”cite news
title=Afghanistan launches open war on Pakistan
url=http://www.alertnet.org/thenews/newsdesk/SP327809.htm
publisher=Reuters
date=2007
accessdate=2007]

Background

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. [http://www.onwar.com/aced/data/alpha/afghanpakist1961.htm Pashtunistan Crisis 1960-1963] ]

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. [http://www.onwar.com/aced/data/alpha/afghanpakist1961.htm Pashtunistan Crisis 1960-1963] ] 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. [Valenta, Jiri (1980). “From Prague to Kabul: The Soviet Style of Invasion”.] 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. [http://web.amnesty.org/library/Index/engASA110161999 REFUGEES FROM AFGHANISTAN:The world's largest single refugee group] ] 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. [Jyotsna Bakshi, ‘Russian Policy towards South Asia’ http://www.asiamedia.ucla.edu/Deadline/IndiaRussiaPRC Jyotsna Bakshi, ‘Russian Policy towards South Asia’] ]

Beginning of conflict

At around 9:00 AM local time (06:00 UTC) On Sunday 13 May 2007, Afghanistan launched attacks towards five or six Pakistani military positions in the Kurram tribal region in northwest Pakistan.cite news | title= Up to 7 Afghan troops killed in Pakistan clash| date=2007-05-13 | publisher=Reuters | url=http://in.today.reuters.com/news/newsArticle.aspx?type=topNews&storyID=2007-05-13T180105Z_01_NOOTR_RTRJONC_0_India-298019-2.xml] 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.cite news | title= Pakistani, Afghan troops clash at border| date=2007-05-13 | publisher=Associated Press | url=http://www.newsone.ca/westfallweeklynews/stories/index.php?action=fullnews&id=7099] 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.cite news | title= Up to 7 Afghan troops killed in Pakistan clash| date=2007-05-13 | publisher=Reuters | url=http://in.today.reuters.com/news/newsArticle.aspx?type=topNews&storyID=2007-05-13T180105Z_01_NOOTR_RTRJONC_0_India-298019-2.xml]

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.cite news | title= Heavy clash between Pakistan, Afghan forces on border| date=2007-05-13 | publisher=indiaenews | url=http://www.indiaenews.com/asia/20070514/51526.htm]

Afghanistan action

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.

Pakistan action

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. [indiaenews. [http://www.indiaenews.com/asia/20070514/51526.htm "Pakistan, Afghan forces on border"] . Retrieved May 13, 2007.]

Casualties

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 [http://in.today.reuters.com/news/newsArticle.aspx?type=topNews&storyID=2007-05-13T180105Z_01_NOOTR_RTRJONC_0_India-298019-2.xml Up to 7 Afghan troops killed in Pakistan clash] ]

Afghan civilians

Pakistan Military

Pakistani civilians

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

International action and reaction

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

ee also

* History of Afghanistan
* History of Pakistan
* Durand Line
* Pushtunistan
* Soviet war in Afghanistan
* Civil war in Afghanistan
* War in Afghanistan
* War on Terrorism
* Taliban
* Military of Afghanistan
* Military of Pakistan

References

External links