2023 Chitral cross-border attacks

2023 Chitral border attack
Part of the Insurgency in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa
Date7 September 2023
Location
Chitral district, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Province, Pakistan
Result

Pakistani Victory[1]

  • TTP militants flee to Eastern Afghanistan
  • Pakistan closes the border for 9 days
Belligerents
 Pakistan Tehrik-i-Taliban Pakistan
Casualties and losses
4 soldiers killed 12 insurgents killed

The 2023 Chitral cross-border attacks were a series of clashes that occurred near the Pakistan-Afghanistan border in Chitral district of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province, Pakistan. On 7 September 2023, the TTP attacked five military checkposts from Afghan territory, killing 4 Pakistani soldiers. In response, the Pakistani military thwarted the attack and killed 12 TTP insurgents.[2]

Background

The mountainous region of Chitral is typically blanketed in snow during the winter, rendering cross-border movement extremely challenging due to the rugged terrain and harsh weather conditions. However, in the summer season, the region experiences more frequent movement of potential attackers due to the improved conditions and accessibility.[3]

Attacks

On 7 September 2023, a significant number of terrorists armed with advanced weaponry launched an attack on two military checkpoints in the Chitral district. This assault led to a fierce firefight, resulting in the loss of at least four Pakistani soldiers and the deaths of 12 armed militants. The outlawed Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) militant group claimed responsibility for this attack.

Protests

On 8 September 2023, Pakistan summoned the head of the Afghan diplomatic mission in Islamabad to lodge a robust protest concerning the attacks. The Foreign Office (FO) issued a stern demarche, emphasizing to the Afghan interim government that such attacks and the utilization of Afghan territory by the TTP would pose a significant threat to peace and security.[4][5]

Aftermath

In reaction to the attack, Pakistani troops successfully thwarted the assault and inflicted significant casualties on the terrorists. Reports indicate that 12 militants were killed during the engagement. Subsequently, a thorough operation was conducted in the area to eliminate any remaining militants.[6][7]

The Pakistani army stated that the attacks were orchestrated from the neighboring Afghan provinces of Kunar and Nuristan, and they initiated a combing operation in response. There was an expectation that the Taliban administration in Afghanistan would fulfill its responsibilities and prevent the utilization of Afghan territory by terrorists to carry out acts of terrorism against Pakistan.[3][6]

Following the attack, Pakistan's primary Torkham border crossing with Afghanistan remained closed for a second consecutive day on 7 September 2023. This closure resulted in a backlog of trucks carrying goods. The Torkham border point serves as the primary transit hub for travelers and the transportation of goods between Pakistan and the landlocked nation of Afghanistan.[8]

The Caretaker Foreign Minister, Jalil Abbas Jilani, has described the recent terrorist attack on two military posts in the Lower Chitral district of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa as an "isolated incident."[9][10]

See also

References

  1. ^ Siddique, Abubakar. "Pakistani Taliban's Reemergence Triggers Fear Of Insurgency's Return." Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty, 16 Sept. 2023, www.rferl.org/a/pakistani-taliban-land-grab-insurgency-islamabad/32595679.html. Accessed 22 Nov. 2023. "Pakistan claimed to have repulsed the attack and forced the TTP militants to retreat into Afghanistan. On September 6, the military said four soldiers and 12 militants were killed in clashes. In a sign that all was not well in Chitral, the government imposed a three-day curfew in the mountainous region."
  2. ^ "Pakistani Taliban Attempts Land Grab To Boost Insurgency Against Islamabad". www.rferl.org. Retrieved 2023-10-01.
  3. ^ a b Hussain, Abid. "Four soldiers, 12 TTP fighters killed in northwest Pakistan". www.aljazeera.com.
  4. ^ "Afghan diplomat summoned over Chitral attack". 8 September 2023.
  5. ^ Shah, S. Muddasir Ali (9 September 2023). "Chitral attack not sanctioned by IEA, says Pakistan".
  6. ^ a b "12 militants, 4 soldiers killed in gunbattle as militants launch attack in Pakistan's north – army". Arab News PK. September 6, 2023.
  7. ^ "4 soldiers martyred during operation to repulse terrorists in Chitral's Kalash area: ISPR". 6 September 2023.
  8. ^ https://www.usnews.com/news/world/articles/2023-09-07/main-pakistan-afghan-border-crossing-closed-for-second-day-after-clashes
  9. ^ "Chitral attack 'isolated incident', not consented by Afghan govt: FM Jilani". September 8, 2023.
  10. ^ "Demarche issued to Afghan diplomat over Chitral attack: FM Jilani". 9 September 2023.