Pakistan–United States skirmishes

2008–2012 events of the War in Afghanistan

Pakistan-United States skirmishes

Part of the War in Afghanistan
| Date| 10 June 2008 – 4 July 2012
(4 years, 3 weeks and 3 days)

|

Location|

Durand Line, Western Pakistan, Afghanistan-Pakistan Border

Result|  See Aftermath
Belligerents
United States
Afghanistan|  Pakistan
Commanders and leaders
Barack Obama
George W. Bush
Leon Panetta
David Petraeus
John R. Allen
Mike Mullen
Tommy Franks
Stanley A. McChrystal
Hamid Karzai|  Yousaf Raza Gillani
Asif Ali Zardari
Hina Rabbani Khar
Ashfaq Pervez Kiani
Shamim Wynne
Nouman Bashir
Rao Suleman
Masood Aslam
Units involved
ISAF Coalition Forces
USAF Afghan Command
U.S. Forces–Afghanistan
NATO Afghanistan Mission
CST Afghan Command|

Western Command

* XI Corps
* Northern Air Command
* Northern Command
* Paramilitary Command

Casualties and losses
Unknown|  55

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* t
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Pakistan–United States skirmishes

* Gora Prai airstrike
* Lowara Madi incident
* Tanai incident
* Kurram incident
* Datta Khel incident
* 2011 NATO attack in Pakistan

The border skirmishes between the United States and Pakistan were the military engagements and confrontations between Pakistan and the United States that took place along the Afghanistan-Pakistan border from late 2008 to late 2012 resulting in the deaths of 55 Pakistani personnel with a unknown number of U.S. casualties. These incidents involved the U.S. Forces-Afghanistan Command and ISAF forces, who had been present in Afghanistan fighting Taliban and al-Qaeda insurgency, and the unified Western military command of the Pakistan Armed Forces against one another in a series of skirmishes that ceased shortly after the 2011 NATO attack in Pakistan. The two sides ultimately made peace and continued collaboration operations against insurgent groups in Pakistan following an official, but brief, apology from then-U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton on 3 July 2012 over the loss of life suffered by the Pakistani military.

## Background

[edit]

Main article: Pakistan–United States since 1991

Further information: CIA activities in Pakistan, Drone attacks in Pakistan, and Pakistan's role in the War on Terror

Since the beginning of the Global War on Terrorism in late 2001 and the subsequent U.S. invasion of Afghanistan to oust the Taliban and al-Qaeda movement, the U.S. has launched several air strikes across into northwest Pakistan to target militants connected with the Afghanistan war who it alleges have fled the country and sought temporary shelter in Pakistan's bordering tribal areas. These strikes have been protested against by Pakistan, as a violation of national sovereignty, and have resulted in tense diplomatic relations between the two countries. They have also caused an uproar among Pakistan's civilian population and politicians and have fueled anti-American sentiments. Since June 2004,[1] the United States military has launched dozens of unmanned aerial vehicle strikes against presumed Taliban targets, killing hundreds[1] of militants and civilians, increasing in intensity post-2009. These drone strikes have been subject to heavy criticism from Pakistan, which maintains that they are not the best way to fight terror and that they will have the inevitable result of uniting the tribesmen along the border with Taliban and against the U.S.[citation needed]

Pakistan had previously coordinated with the U.S. on missile strikes. However after the U.S. began conducting strikes without informing Pakistani authorities,[2] Pakistan ordered its troops to counteract. Several specific actions developed, although no serious diplomatic spats on either side have been reported yet. The actions are listed below.

## Incidents

[edit]

### Gora Prai incident

[edit]

Main article: Gora Prai airstrike

On 10 June 2008, 10 Pakistani paramilitary troops from the Frontier Corps and a Pakistan Army major, were killed by a US airstrike in Pakistani tribal areas. The airstrike occurred following clashes between Taliban fighters and Afghan troops. Afghan troops ordered an airstrike against the Taliban which, according to the US, accidentally hit a Pakistani post. [3]

### Standoff of 15 September 2008

[edit]

Pakistani troops fired warning shots into the air to deter Afghan troops from entering Pakistan. It occurred on the Afghan side of the Afghanistan-Pakistan border close to Angoor Ada, some 30 kilometers from Wana, the main town in South Waziristan in the Federally Administered Tribal Areas of Pakistan.

Seven US helicopter gunships and two troop-carrying Chinook helicopters landed on the Afghan side of the border, in the Afghan province of Paktika, where US troops then tried to cross the border into Pakistan. As they did so, Pakistani paramilitary soldiers at a checkpoint began firing shots and the US troops decided not to continue forward. The firing reportedly lasted for several hours. Local tribesmen also evacuated their homes and took up defensive positions in the mountains after placing women and children out of harm's way.[4]

The standoff occurred less than two weeks after 3 September 2008 Angoor Ada raid, during which U.S. Special Forces conducted a raid inside Pakistani territory. That incident caused much consternation and protests in Pakistan, over the violation of Pakistan's sovereignty.[citation needed]

### Lowara Madi incident

[edit]

Main article: Lowara Madi incident

Two AH-64 Apache helicopters were intercepted over Pakistani territory

On 21 September 2008 at 10 pm local time, in the Ghulam Khan district of North Waziristan Pakistani soldiers fired on two American helicopter gunships, that entered Pakistani airspace, with 12.7 mm heavy machine guns. The helicopters stopped and hovered for a while, before returning over the border to Afghanistan without retaliation. It is unknown if any of the helicopters sustained any damage in this first incident.[5][6]

Thirty minutes later, two gunships attempted to cross the border again at the same place. Pakistani regular and Frontier Corps troops fired warning shots into the air and away from the helicopters, causing the helicopters to turn back without attacking any targets in Pakistan.[7]

### Tanai incident

[edit]

Main article: Tanai incident

On 25 September 2008 Pakistani troops fired on two American OH-58 Kiowa reconnaissance helicopters; U.S. ground troops, who the helicopters were supporting, returned fire. No one was injured on either side and the helicopters were undamaged. American and NATO officials asserted that the helicopters were flying within Afghan territory to protect an armed patrol. Pakistani officials declared that the helicopters were inside Pakistani territory and were fired upon by "flares" as a warning.[8]

### Kurram incident

[edit]

Main article: Kurram incident

On 30 September 2010. U.S. helicopters entered Pakistani airspace after ground troops determined that a mortar attack by militants in Pakistan was imminent, according to the Coalition. Pakistani Frontier Corps troops manning the Mandata Kadaho border post fired warning shots, and the helicopters responded by firing two missiles that destroyed the post. Three soldiers were killed and another three wounded. Pakistan responded by closing a key NATO supply route for eleven days.[9]

### Datta Khel incident

[edit]

Main article: Datta Khel incident

On May 17, 2011, a skirmish between a U.S. helicopter and Pakistani forces took place in the Datta Khel area. According to NATO, an American base along the Afghanistan-Pakistan border took direct and indirect fire from Pakistan. Two U.S. helicopters flew into the area. According to the Pakistani military, the helicopters had breached its airspace. Pakistani forces fired at a helicopter twice, and the helicopter returned fire, injuring two soldiers. Pakistan reportedly deployed two attack helicopters, which arrived after the U.S. helicopters had left.[10]

### Salala incident

[edit]

Main article: 2011 NATO attack in Pakistan

On 26 November 2011, 28 Pakistani soldiers,[11] including 2 officers,[12][13][14] were killed and the remainder injured in an attack on two Pakistani border posts in Mohmand tribal region by NATO Apache helicopters, an AC-130 gunship and fighter jets.[15][16] There were a total of 40 soldiers present in the check post and the raid took place at night while most of them were sleeping or resting.[16][17][18] The attack was the deadliest strike to date on Pakistani soil by NATO.[19] Pakistan claimed that there was no militant activity along the Afghan border region when NATO conducted the attack.[20] Pakistan immediately suspended all NATO supplies to Afghanistan in the aftermath of the attack.[16][20][21] Pakistan later also ordered the U.S. to completely shut down operations and vacate the Shamsi Airfield in Balochistan, which the U.S. reportedly uses for launching drone attacks in Pakistan, within a time frame of 15 days, the NATO claimed responsibility for the attack.[22]

## Aftermath

[edit]

Skirmishes between the United States and Pakistan concluded after Hillary Clinton, United States Secretary of State, apologized for the death of Pakistani personnel from the 2011 NATO attack in Pakistan.[23] Subsequently, Pakistan agreed to reopen NATO supply routes to Afghanistan.

## See also

[edit]

* Pakistan–United States military relations
* Afghanistan–Pakistan skirmishes, a closely related series of military confrontations
* Indo-Pakistani wars and conflicts
* AfPak, a term once used to describe the US/NATO war in South Asia

## References

[edit]

1. ^ a b "The Year of the Drone An Analysis of U.S. Drone Strikes in Pakistan, 2004–2010". Counterterrorism.newamerica.net. Archived from the original on 30 August 2011. Retrieved 27 March 2011.
2. ^ Pakistan Issues Threat Over U.S. Incursions – Wall street Journal, 17 September 2008
3. ^ "News Listing".
4. ^ Pakistans soldiers 'confronts US'  -BBC News, 15 September 2008
5. ^ Pakistani troops twice repel US choppers: officials Archived 2008-09-25 at the Wayback Machine AFP, 23 September 2008
6. ^ Pakistan troops 'repel US raid' -BBC News, 22 September 2008
7. ^ Pak troops fire at US helicopters in N Waziristan Archived 2009-07-07 at the Wayback Machine – ExpressIndia.com, 22 September 2008
8. ^ Schmitt, Eric (25 September 2008). "Pakistani and American Troops Exchange Fire". The New York Times. Retrieved 25 September 2008.
9. ^ Brulliard, Karin (30 September 2010). "Pakistan blocks NATO's Afghan-bound supply trucks after airstrike kills 3". The Washington Post.
10. ^ Raddatz, Martha; Schifrin, Nick; Ferran, Lee (17 May 2011). "U.S. Helicopter, Pakistani Military Exchange Fire at Border". ABC News. Retrieved 23 September 2020.
11. ^ Coleman, Jasmine (26 November 2011). "Pakistan halts Nato supplies after attack leaves soldiers dead". The Guardian. London.
12. ^ "Pakistan cuts NATO supply lines after 'unprovoked' attack". Firstpost. 26 November 2011. Retrieved 18 May 2016.
13. ^ "Pakistan protest NATO attack on check post". Thenews.com.pk. Retrieved 17 December 2011.
14. ^ "Radio Pakistan-At least twenty-five security officials including two officers were martyred when the NATO helicop". Radio.gov.pk. Archived from the original on 26 April 2012. Retrieved 17 December 2011.
15. ^ "NATO attack fallout: Pakistan tells US to vacate airbase". Ndtv.com. 26 November 2011. Retrieved 17 December 2011.
16. ^ a b c "Pakistan outrage after 'Nato attack kills soldiers'". BBC News. 26 November 2011. Retrieved 18 May 2016.
17. ^ "24 soldiers killed in NATO attack on Pakistan checkpost". Express Tribune. 26 November 2011.
18. ^ Jon Boone (27 November 2011). "Nato air attack on Pakistani troops was self-defence, says senior western official". the Guardian. Retrieved 18 May 2016.
19. ^ Pakistan Deaths: US Offers Condolences
20. ^ a b "Pakistan to review relations with U.S., NATO, ISAF in wake of attack - CNN.com". CNN. 27 November 2011.
21. ^ "Pakistan blocks Afghanistan NATO supplies after checkpost attack". Express Tribune. 26 November 2011. Retrieved 26 November 2011.
22. ^ "Pakistan orders U.S. to shut major down air base". CBS News. Archived from the original on 27 November 2011.
23. ^ Peralta, Eyder (3 July 2012). "After Apology, Pakistan Agrees To Reopen Military Supply Line, Says Clinton". National Public Radio.

* v
* t
* e

Pakistan–United States relations

Diplomatic
posts|

* Embassy of Pakistan, Washington, D.C.
* Ambassadors of Pakistan to the United States
* Embassy of the United States, Islamabad
* Ambassadors of the United States to Pakistan
* Consulate General of the United States, Karachi
* Consulate General of the United States, Lahore
* Consulate General of the United States, Peshawar
* Embassy of Iran, Washington, D.C.
* Interests Section of Iran in the United States
* Bureau of South and Central Asian Affairs

Diplomacy|

* State visit by Liaquat Ali Khan to the United States
* Enhanced Partnership with Pakistan Act of 2009

Incidents|

* 1960 U-2 incident
* Sino-Pakistan Agreement
* 1979 U.S. embassy burning in Islamabad
* Project Sabre II
* Pan Am Flight 73
* Death of Muhammad Zia-ul-Haq
* CIA headquarters shooting
* Mir Aimal Kansi
* Bojinka plot
* Aafia Siddiqui
* D.C. Five
* April 2010 U.S consulate and ANP attack
* Gary Brooks Faulkner
* United States diplomatic cables leak
* Raymond Allen Davis incident
* Killing of Osama bin Laden
* Abbottabad Commission
* Commission Report
* Memogate
* Shakil Afridi
* Syed Ghulam Nabi Fai
* 2011 NATO attack in Pakistan
* Lettergate
* Pakistani Guantanamo Bay detainees

Military
relations|

* AfPak
* CIA activities in Pakistan
* Drone strikes in Pakistan
* Damadola airstrike
* Chenagai airstrike
* Gora Prai airstrike
* Miramshah airstrike
* 2009 Makin airstrike
* Datta Khel airstrike
* Haqqani network
* Insurgency in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa
* Inter-Services Intelligence activities in the United States
* Major non-NATO ally
* Operation Cyclone
* Pakistan in the war on terror
* Skirmishes
* Datta Khel incident
* Kurram incident
* Lowara Madi incident
* Tanai incident
* Southeast Asia Treaty Organization
* Task Force 74
* War in Afghanistan (2001–2021)
* Kunduz airlift
* NATO logistics
* Operation Cannonball

Related|

* 1953 American Karakoram expedition
* United States aid to Pakistan
* Anti-American sentiment in Pakistan
* Bashir Ahmad
* Pakistan lobby in the United States
* Pakistan and state-sponsored terrorism
* American International School System
* International School of Islamabad
* Karachi American School
* Lahore American School
* Charlie Wilson's War: The Extraordinary Story of the Largest Covert Operation in History'
* The Duel: Pakistan on the Flight Path of American Power

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