Orakzai and Kurram offensive

2010 Pakistani military operation From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Orakzai and Kurram offensive

The Orakzai and Kurram offensive, also known as Operation Khwakh Ba De Sham (Pashto: خوښ با دی شم; lit.'I will teach you a lesson')[6] was a Pakistani military operation against the Tehrik-i-Taliban in the Orakzai and Kurram agencies of the Federally Administered Tribal Areas of Pakistan that began on 23 March 2010.[7] It was part of the War in North-West Pakistan.

Quick Facts Operation Khwakh Ba De Sham, Date ...
Operation Khwakh Ba De Sham
Part of the Insurgency in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa

The Orakzai Agency highlighted in yellow
DateBattle phase:

(in Kurram) September 2009[1] – June 2010
(in Orakzai) March 2010 – June 2010


Insurgency phase: June 2010 – January 2011
Location
Result Pakistani victory[2][3][4][5]
Belligerents
Pakistan TTP
TNSM
Commanders and leaders
Gen. Ashfaq Parvez Kayani
Lt. Gen. Khalid Rabbani
ACM Rao Suleman
MG Tariq Khan
Hakimullah Mehsud 
Waliur Rehman Mehsud 
Taj Gul 
Maulana Fazlullah
Mangal Bagh 
Units involved

Civil Armed Forces

 Pakistan Army

 Pakistan Air Force

Unknown
Strength
Frontier Corps and Regular Army: 45,000[7] Unknown
Casualties and losses

In Orakzai:

In Kurram:

In Orakzai:

  • 2,182–2,552 killed[6]

In Kurram:


333 insurgents captured[12]

At least 200,000 civilians displaced[13]

3,100 civilians killed in Kurram by Taliban[14]
Close

Timeline

Summarize
Perspective

Start of offensive

On 23 March 2010, the Pakistani Army launched a military operation to clear Taliban insurgents from Orakzai Agency. Pakistani general Tariq Khan stated:

This will finish in a couple of months. We'll take care of all of them. We're just waiting for the major operations—like Orakzai and North Waziristan—to finish, to spare us the troops to start changing our methodology. Instead of kinetic, concentrated operations, we start search and cordon and sting operations, for which actually you need more boots on the ground.

On 1 April security forces claimed to have taken complete control of the Lower Orakzai Agency.[15] On 12 April security forces claimed to have extended their control over more areas of Orakzai Agency and were advancing to Upper Orakzai Agency.[16] Militants began fleeing to parts of Tirah Valley, which borders Khyber Agency.[17]

End of operations in Lower Orakzai Agency

Operations in Lower Orakzai ended with seven thousand troops seizing control of the area on 5 May. With government-provided transport and security, five thousand Pakistani refugee families returned to their homes. About 400 militants were killed in Lower Orakzai; soldiers continued fighting in Central Orakzai.[18]

Ongoing clashes in Orakzai

Between 10 and 19 May, clashes were ongoing in Orakzai. Over these days, a total of 118 insurgents and 11 soldiers were killed.

10 May  At least 9 soldiers and about 30 insurgents were killed in clashes in Orakzai. Military officials described the battle between the insurgents and the army as "fierce" and said that two officers were among the dead.[19]

16 May  "Fighter jets and helicopter gunships attacked militant sanctuaries in the villages of Dabori, Gojar and Kamer Mela in Orakzai, killing 40 suspected insurgents", said Samiullah Khan, a senior government administrator in Orakzai. "Troops attacked militant hide-outs in Koul village, triggering clashes that killed 18 suspected insurgents. Five soldiers and at least 25 militants were wounded in the fighting. The injured militants were taken into custody", said Jehanzeb Khan, a local administrator.[20] By 17 May the total number of dead militants reached 60.[21]

19 May  Another military clash between Pakistani troops and the Taliban killed 28 insurgents and wounded 21. Also killed in the fighting were two Pakistani soldiers.[22]

End of offensive in Orakzai

On 1 June, the Pakistan Army declared an end to military offensive in Orakzai after announcing it has fully cleared Orakzai of Taliban.[23][24][25] However, locals claimed that while Lower Orakzai was cleared, the situation in Central and Upper Orakzai had not changed much.[26][27] Pakistani authorities reported they were preparing for a full-scale military offensive in North Waziristan, targeting Taliban leadership and al-Qaeda.[28][29]

In Kurram

According to the Pakistani Army on 3 June, Taliban insurgents had also been cleared from the neighbouring Kurram Agency.[30][31]

Insurgency phase

Thumb
Pakistani fighter jets were actively involved in the operation
Thumb
View of Kurram Agency
Thumb
Pakistani soldier

2010

  • 13 June  At least 44 Taliban insurgents were killed by the Pakistani army in the ongoing military operation in the tribal areas of Pakistan (military clashes continued mainly in Upper Orakzai[32] and Kurram[citation needed]). In addition, 6 Pakistani soldiers were killed.[citation needed]
  • 16 June  Insurgents kidnapped 60 people in Kurram.[33]
  • 20 June  A Pakistani air strike killed at least 13 Taliban insurgents in Orakzai.[34]
  • 21–22 June  At least 4 Pakistani army soldiers and 43 Taliban insurgents were killed during two days in Orakzai tribal areas.[35][36]
  • 23 June  A new clash in Orakzai killed at least 24 Taliban insurgents and 1 Pakistani paramilitary soldier. Also 9 soldiers were reportedly wounded.[37]
  • 24 June  At least 39 Taliban insurgents and 1 Pakistani soldier were killed in Upper Orakzai.[38][39]
  • 26 June  At least 14 Taliban insurgents were killed in Orakzai by Pakistani fighter jet.[40]
  • 28 June  At least 12 Taliban insurgents were killed and two security men were injured in military clashes within Upper Orakzai.[citation needed]
  • 29 June  At least 66 Taliban insurgents were killed and another 30 injured in airstrikes and clashes with the security forces across the country's[clarification needed] north-west. At least 4 Pakistani soldiers were also killed.[41] At least 10 Taliban insurgents were killed by Pakistani Army in Kurram.[42]
  • 30 June  At least 20 Taliban insurgents were killed in Orakzai after a Pakistani airstrike.[43]
  • 1 July  After a military clash between two armed groups, at least 10 Taliban insurgents were killed. Pakistani sources reported that many of the militants from Orakzai Agency were migrating into the Kurram Agency.[44]
  • 4 July  At least 26 Taliban insurgents were killed and many other militants were injured after Pakistani military's jets launched airstrikes within Orakzai, in northwestern Pakistan.[citation needed]
  • 5 July  At least 22 Taliban insurgents were killed by Pakistani fighter jets.[45][46]
  • 6 July  Pakistani command reported that 80% of the Kurram Agency had been cleared of insurgents.[1] In ongoing military clashes in Kurram, at least 18 Pakistani soldiers and 96 Taliban insurgents were killed.[47]
  • 8 July  At least 14 Taliban insurgents were killed and 10 others were wounded after the Pakistani Armed Forces launched several airstrikes within Orakzai, in northwestern Pakistan.[citation needed]
  • 9–10 July  Over two days, at least 27 Taliban insurgents were killed in two separate airstrikes by Pakistani fighter jets in Orakzai.[48][49]
  • 14 July  Pakistani troops killed at least 24 Taliban insurgents; among the dead rebels was a senior Taliban commander, Taj Gul.[50]
  • 16 July  At least 22 Taliban insurgents were killed and 13 others were reportedly injured during an attack on their hideouts within Orakzai tribal regions, which was conducted by Pakistani security forces.[51] In Kurram, Taliban fired on the convoy with civilians, killing at least 16 people.[52]
  • 18 July  At least 15 Taliban insurgents were killed after Pakistani military fighter jets bombarded militant positions and destroyed eight militant hideouts in the Mamuzai district of Orakzai tribal regions.[citation needed]
  • 20 July  At least 42 Taliban insurgents were killed by Pakistani security forces in both Kurram and Orakzai. In one incident Pakistan's military aerially bombarded militant hideouts in the Upper Orakzai region, killing 20 insurgents and wounding a further 15 others. Meanwhile, within the Kurram Agency, security forces targeted Taliban hideouts in a pre-dawn assault. It was later reported that 22 insurgents were killed and 11 others were apparently injured during this operation.[citation needed]
  • 21 July  At least 30 Taliban insurgents were killed by the Pakistani Army in Orakzai.[53]
  • 22 July  At least 3 Pakistani Army soldiers and 33 Taliban insurgents were killed in Orakzai.[citation needed]
  • 23 July  At least 29 Taliban insurgents were killed in airstrikes and military clashes with the Pakistani Army in Orakzai. Meanwhile, it was also reported that 5 Taliban insurgents were apparently killed in clashes with tribesmen in Kurram.[54]
  • 24 July  At least 39 Taliban insurgents were killed and many others injured after the Pakistani Army launched a fresh military operation within different areas of Upper Orakzai. It was also reported that 3 Taliban insurgents and 1 tribesman were killed in clashes in Kurram.[citation needed]
  • 25 July  At least 23 Taliban insurgents were reportedly killed in Orakzai by fighter jets.[55]
  • 26 July  At least 34 Taliban insurgents were killed and 18 injured from Pakistani fighter jet attacks in Orakzai and Kurram.[10]
  • 27 July  14 Taliban insurgents were killed in Pakistani fighter jet attacks in Orakzai.[56]
  • 30 July  12 Taliban insurgents were killed in Kurrum when Pakistani security forces attacked militant positions.[57]
  • 1 August  15 Taliban insurgents were killed by Pakistani Aircraft Fighters in Orakzai.[58]
  • 2 August  At least 15 Taliban insurgents were killed by Pakistani Army in Orakzai.[59]
  • 3 August  At least 12 Taliban insurgents were killed by Pakistani Security Forces in Upper Orakzai.[60]
  • 19 August  At least 14 Taliban insurgents were killed in military clashes with the Pakistani security forces in the Tapu region of Orakzai. At least 1 Pakistani soldier was also killed and another soldier injured.[citation needed]
  • 20 August  At least 11 Taliban insurgents were killed by Pakistani Army in Orakzai and Kurram.[61]
  • 21 August  At least 8 Taliban insurgents and 1 Pakistani soldier were killed in Orakzai.[62]
  • 23 August  At least 2 Taliban insurgents were killed by Pakistani Security Forces in Orakzai.[63] At least 7 citizens were killed when a bomb exploded in Kurram.[64]
  • 25 August  At least 7 Taliban insurgents, including an important Taliban commander, were killed and 3 others were reportedly injured in a military clash with the Pakistani military in Upper Orakzai.[citation needed]
  • 2 September  At least 15 Taliban insurgents were killed and 10 others were reportedly injured after three militant hideouts in Kurram were destroyed by helicopter gunships of the Pakistani Army.[citation needed]
  • 7 September  The Pakistani army claimed it had cleared militants from nearly 90% of Orakzai Agency and it was now helping the area's displaced persons return home.[65][66]
  • 10 September  7 insurgents open fire on four local high school students in Orakzai, killing them. In an outrage, local civilians and tribesmen tracked and killed the 7 Taliban insurgents.[67]
  • 20 September  At least 8 Taliban insurgents were killed and 7 others were reportedly injured when Pakistani helicopter gunships attacked militant positions in Kurram.[68]
  • 5 October  At least 18 Taliban insurgents were killed and another 6 were injured when Pakistani helicopter gunships attacked militant positions in central Kurram.[69]
  • 21 October  At least 6 Taliban insurgents were killed by a roadside bomb in Kurram. Among the dead rebels was a top Taliban commander, Hakim Khan.[70]
  • 22 October  At least 6 Pakistani soldiers were killed by a roadside bomb in Orakzai.[71]
  • 23 October  At least 18 Pakistani Taliban insurgents were killed and 12 others injured when the Pakistan Army targeted and destroyed several militant hide-outs, as a result of Pakistani Army troops backed up by helicopter gunships in Orakzai. Meanwhile, it was also reported that Pakistani paramilitary forces pounded suspected militant positions, killing 5 Pakistani Taliban insurgents and injuring 7 others within the neighbouring Kurram Agency.[72]
  • 26 October  At least 6 Taliban insurgents were killed by Pakistani Army in Orakzai. It was reported that at least 1 Pakistani soldier was also killed in this clash.[8]
  • 27 October  Inspector General Frontier Corps Major General Nadir Zaib said that 90 percent of Orakzai agency areas have been cleared from the terrorists. He added that during the previous few months, 650 Taliban were killed and 250 were captured, with 60 officers killed and 194 sustaining injuries, while security forces were doing a successful operation for the remaining 10 percent. He also stated that Corps Commander Peshawar Lieutenant General Asif Yasin, while briefing the media in Orakzai, said the Pakistan army strongly intended to clear Taliban from the tribal areas by 2012 and that the valley of Tirah would also be cleared of Taliban soon.[73]
  • 29 October  20 Taliban were killed when the Pakistani Army shelled hideouts in Orakzai.[74]
  • 1 November  At least 12 Taliban insurgents were killed and 9 others were reportedly injured after three militant hideouts were destroyed by helicopter gunships of the Pakistani Army, in the Orakzai tribal region of north-western Pakistan.[75]
  • 6 November  At least 22 Taliban militants were killed by shelling from Pakistani helicopter gunships on hideouts in Orakzai.[76]
  • 7 November  At least 5 Taliban insurgents were killed by unidentified armed men in Kurram. Among the dead rebels was a Taliban commander, Hikmat Shah.[77]
  • 11 November  At least 15 Taliban insurgents were killed after Pakistani military fighter jets bombarded militant positions and destroyed militant hideouts in Upper Orakzai. A top Taliban commander, Ziaullah, was arrested during this operation. At least 6 Taliban insurgents were killed by Pakistani Army in Orakzai.[78][79]
  • 13 November  At least 8 Taliban insurgents were killed by Pakistani Army in Orakzai.[79]
  • 21 November  At least 15 Taliban insurgents were killed by Pakistani Army in Orakzai.[80]
  • 25 November  At least 8 Taliban insurgents were killed by Pakistani Army in Orakzai.[79]
  • 1 December  At least 10 Taliban militants were killed by the Pakistani Army in Orakzai.[81]
  • 6 December  Pakistan security forces stated that more than 85% of Orakzai was cleared and that they were working on clearing the remaining 15%. During a grand peace jirga on December 5 held at Kalaya, Orkazai Agency headquarters, Sunni and Shia tribal elders unanimously agreed to collectively open all roads closed since 2005 and announced to take stern action jointly against elements found guilty of any subversive activity. The jirga was attended, among others, by FC Inspector General Major General Nadir Zaib, Orakzai Political Agent Riaz Mehsud, religious scholars from both Sunni and Shia sects, tribal maliks, chieftains, Sikhs, and elites of the areas.[82][83] Representatives of the Haqqani network was reportedly involved in talks.[84]
  • 23 December  At least 2 Pakistani citizens were injured after Taliban insurgents opened firing on a convoy in Kurram.[85]
  • 29 December  At least 7 Taliban insurgents were killed by shelling from Pakistani helicopter gunships on hideouts in Kurram.[86]
  • 30 December  At least 20 Taliban insurgents were killed by shelling from Pakistani helicopter gunships on hideouts in Kurram.[87]

2011

  • 4 January  Taliban insurgents chopped off a hand of a local resident who was convicted of theft in Orakzai.[88]
  • 6 January  At least 6 Taliban insurgents were killed by Pakistani tribal volunteers in Orakzai.[89]
  • 7 January  At least 46 Taliban insurgents were arrested by Pakistani army forces in Kurram.[90]
  • 11 January  At least 5 Taliban insurgents were killed by unspecified militants in Kurram.[91]
  • 21 January  According to sources most of the areas of Orakzai Agency have been cleared of militants, while about 10% of the area (including Sefal Darra, Kasha, Wood Mela, Mamozai, and Ahang) was still under their control.[92]

See also

References

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