January 2014 FATA airstrikes
| January 2014 FATA airstrikes | |||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Part of the War in North-West Pakistan | |||||||
| |||||||
| Belligerents | |||||||
 Pakistan |
 Tehrik-i-Taliban Pakistan  Al Qaeda | ||||||
| Commanders and leaders | |||||||
|
Nawaz Sharif |
Hakimullah Mehsud | ||||||
| Units involved | |||||||
|
Tehrik-i-Taliban Pakistan Al Qaeda | |||||||
| Casualties and losses | |||||||
| None |
36–62 killed 15 wounded | ||||||
|
15 civilians killed 23,000 civilians displaced | |||||||
January 2014 FATA airstrikes refers to multiple airstrikes carried out in Miramshah, Mir Ali and Tirah valley in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa on January 20 and January 21, 2014.
Background
[edit]2014 Bannu bombing, by Taliban killed twenty six Pakistani soldiers. Thirty-eight other people were injured as a result of the bombing.[1] The bomb blast , domestic and international pressure on Pakistani government compelled the government to launch airstrikes, for the first time since 2007.[2][3]
Strikes
[edit]January 20
[edit]On January 20, 2014, Pakistan Air Force warplanes started the airstrike campaign by bombing multiple insurgent bases in North Waziristan followed by shelling of the targets by Pakistan Army helicopters.[2][4][5][3][6]
According to Pakistan, 40 insurgents most of which were foreigners including sixteen Uzbek[6] and three German Al-qaeda members were killed.[2] Independent sources reported 39 casualties (24 killed and 15 wounded).[4][5] Wali Muhammad, a TTP commander, was reported to be killed in these strikes.[2] Pakistan claimed that a huge weapons and ammunition cache was destroyed by the airstrikes.[6] Furthermore, it was reported that residential areas were hit and 15 civilians were killed.[5][3] More than 23,000 people fled the area amidst fear of more strikes.[7]
January 21
[edit]The next day, Pakistan Air Force warplanes bombarded insurgent bases in Khyber Agency killing 12 militants.[4][6] Four militant hideouts were destroyed in the air raid on Tirah valley in Khyber Agency.[8]
Aftermath
[edit]Shahidullah Shahid, a spokesman for the Pakistani Taliban, warned that his group would be compelled to take revenge. There was a surge in terrorist activities in Pakistan.[2]
On January 21st 2014 Mastung bus bombing killed 22 Shi'ite pilgrims returning from Iran, 32 were wounded.[9]
References
[edit]- ^ Mohammed, Ijaz. "Taliban bomb kills 20 troops in Pakistan". USA Today. Retrieved 20 January 2014.
- ^ a b c d e "A military action, at last?".
- ^ a b c "-Pakistan bombs tribal areas after Taliban attacks".
- ^ a b c "South Asia terrorism portal, major incidents in Pakistan 2014".
- ^ a b c "Pakistan bombs militant hideouts in tribal area after Taliban attacks".
- ^ a b c d "Air strikes target foreign militants in N. Waziristan".
- ^ "Thousands flee North Waziristan fearing more airstrikes".
- ^ "Military offensive: Over 50 militants killed in Waziristan, Khyber air blitzes".
- ^ "Bomb targets bus of Shia pilgrims in south-west Pakistan". BBC News. 21 January 2014. Archived from the original on 21 January 2014. Retrieved 23 April 2014.