2023 Chitral cross-border attacks

{{For|the terrorist raid in 2011|2011 Chitral cross-border attacks}}{{Infobox military conflict

| conflict = 2023 Chitral border attack

| partof = the Insurgency in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa

| image = {{Location map|Khyber Pakhtunkhwa

|width = 300

|float = center | border=infobox | caption =

|label = Chitral

|position = none

|mark = Red pog.svg

|lat_deg = 35.8400

|lon_deg = 71.8000 }}

| caption =

| date = 7 September 2023

| place = Chitral district, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Province, Pakistan

| coordinates =

| result = Pakistani VictorySiddique, 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."

Militants flee to Eastern Afghanistan
Pakistan closes the border for 9 days

| territory =

| combatant1 = {{PAK}}

| combatant2 = {{Flagicon image|Variant flag of the Islamic State.svg}} Pakistani Taliban

{{Flagicon image|Flag of AQIS.svg}} Al-Qaeda in the Indian Subcontinent

| commander1 =

| commander2 =

| units1 =

| units2 =

| strength1 =

| strength2 =

| casualties1 = 4 soldiers killed

| casualties2 = 12 insurgents killed

}}

On September 7, 2023, clashes erupted near the Pakistan-Afghanistan border in Chitral district, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province. A group of armed fighters affiliated with the Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) and al-Qaeda in the Indian Subcontinent (AQIS){{Cite web |last=Gul |first=Ayaz |date=2024-02-01 |title=UN: Al-Qaida, Afghan Taliban Assist TTP With Attacks in Pakistan |url=https://www.voanews.com/a/un-al-qaida-afghan-taliban-assist-ttp-with-attacks-in-pakistan-/7466250.html |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240916174605/https://www.voanews.com/a/un-al-qaida-afghan-taliban-assist-ttp-with-attacks-in-pakistan-/7466250.html |archive-date=2024-09-16 |access-date=2024-11-11 |website=Voice of America |language=en}} attacked five Pakistani military checkpoints from Afghan territory. The Pakistani military responded to the attack, resulting in casualties on both sides. Four Pakistani soldiers were killed, and according to reports, twelve of the attackers were also killed.{{Cite web |last1=Siddique |first1=Abubakar |last2=Babar |first2=Majeed |date=2023-09-16 |title=Pakistani Taliban Attempts Land Grab To Boost Insurgency Against Islamabad |url=https://www.rferl.org/amp/pakistani-taliban-land-grab-insurgency-islamabad/32595679.html |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240203114232/https://www.rferl.org/amp/pakistani-taliban-land-grab-insurgency-islamabad/32595679.html |archive-date=2024-02-03 |access-date=2023-10-01 |website=Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty}}

Background

= Geography =

Chitral's mountainous terrain presents a significant obstacle to cross-border movement throughout the winter due to heavy snowfall. Harsh weather conditions further exacerbate the difficulty of traversing the region during this season. Conversely, summer brings more accessible routes and milder weather, which coincides with an observed increase in potential cross-border activity.{{Cite web |last=Hussain |first=Abid |title=Four soldiers, 12 TTP fighters killed in northwest Pakistan |url=https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2023/9/7/four-soldiers-12-ttp-fighters-killed-in-northwest-pakistan |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240118061103/https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2023/9/7/four-soldiers-12-ttp-fighters-killed-in-northwest-pakistan |archive-date=2024-01-18 |website=www.aljazeera.com}}

= Recent attacks =

Pakistani defense analysts recently reported a worrying increase in militant attacks targeting military installations. This coincides with a broader trend of heightened extremist violence within the country since the Taliban's 2021 takeover of Afghanistan. These developments have strained relations between Pakistan and the Taliban government. The Taliban have denied accusations from Pakistan of harboring militant groups, specifically the Pakistani Taliban (TTP). Notably, the TTP views the Afghan Taliban as an ally.{{Cite web |date=2023-11-05 |title=Militant Attack on Air Base Is Latest Episode to Unnerve Pakistan |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2023/11/04/world/asia/pakistan-air-base-attack.html |access-date=2024-03-16 |website=New york Times}}

More than 300 similar attacks of varying intensity took place in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province in this year.{{Cite web |last=Hussain |first=Abid |title=Four soldiers, 12 TTP fighters killed in northwest Pakistan |url=https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2023/9/7/four-soldiers-12-ttp-fighters-killed-in-northwest-pakistan |access-date=2024-03-30 |website=Al Jazeera |language=en}}

Detail

= Attack and Aftermath =

On September 7, 2023, a clash erupted near two military checkpoints in Chitral district, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province, Pakistan. An estimated 150-300 armed individuals engaged in a firefight with Pakistani forces. The incident involved advanced weaponry and resulted in casualties on both sides. At least four Pakistani soldiers and twelve armed individuals were killed. The outlawed militant group Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) claimed responsibility for the attack.{{Cite web |date=2023-09-06 |title=Pakistan: Clashes Near Afghan Border Kill 4 Soldiers, 12 'Terrorists' |url=https://www.voanews.com/a/pakistan-clashes-near-afghan-border/7257257.html |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240210140638/https://www.voanews.com/a/pakistan-clashes-near-afghan-border/7257257.html |archive-date=2024-02-10 |access-date=2024-03-30 |website=Voice of America |language=en}} A United Nations Security Council report claims that al-Qaeda in the Indian Subcontinent (AQIS) supplied the TTP with multiple fighters to conduct the operation.{{Cite web |date=2023-12-28 |title=Thirty-third report of the Analytical Support and Sanctions Monitoring Team submitted pursuant to resolution 2610 (2021) concerning ISIL (Da'esh), Al-Qaida and associated individuals and entities |url=https://documents.un.org/doc/undoc/gen/n23/431/79/pdf/n2343179.pdf |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240916175321/https://documents.un.org/doc/undoc/gen/n23/431/79/pdf/n2343179.pdf |archive-date=2024-09-16 |access-date=2024-11-11 |website=United Nations Security Council}}

Pakistani forces responded to the attack, reportedly inflicting casualties on the armed group. News reports indicate that twelve individuals were killed. Following the incident, Pakistani forces conducted an operation to secure the area.{{Cite web |date=September 6, 2023 |title=12 militants, 4 soldiers killed in gunbattle as militants launch attack in Pakistan's north – army |url=https://arab.news/4mskn |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231004113154/https://arab.news/4mskn |archive-date=2023-10-04 |website=Arab News PK}}{{cite web |date=6 September 2023 |title=4 soldiers martyred during operation to repulse terrorists in Chitral's Kalash area: ISPR |url=https://www.dawn.com/news/1774386}} The Pakistani military claimed the attacks originated in the neighboring Afghan provinces of Kunar and Nuristan. They launched a search operation in response. Pakistan has previously expressed its expectation that the Afghan government would uphold its commitments and prevent the use of Afghan territory for cross-border attacks.

The Torkham border crossing, a key route for trade and travel between Pakistan and Afghanistan, remained closed for a second day on September 8, 2023, following the attack in the Chitral district. This closure caused delays for trucks transporting goods.{{Cite web |date=2023-09-07 |title=Main Pakistan-Afghan Border Crossing Closed for Second Day After Clashes |url=https://www.usnews.com/news/world/articles/2023-09-07/main-pakistan-afghan-border-crossing-closed-for-second-day-after-clashes |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231004113154/https://www.usnews.com/news/world/articles/2023-09-07/main-pakistan-afghan-border-crossing-closed-for-second-day-after-clashes |archive-date=2023-10-04 |access-date=2024-03-30 |website=usnews.com}} Pakistan's Caretaker Foreign Minister, Jalil Abbas Jilani, referred to the recent attack on military checkpoints in Lower Chitral district, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, as an "isolated incident."{{cite web |date=9 September 2023 |title=Demarche issued to Afghan diplomat over Chitral attack: FM Jilani |url=https://www.dawn.com/news/1774931/demarche-issued-to-afghan-diplomat-over-chitral-attack-fm-jilani |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231109193734/https://www.dawn.com/news/1774931/demarche-issued-to-afghan-diplomat-over-chitral-attack-fm-jilani |archive-date=2023-11-09 |access-date=2024-03-30 |website=dawn.com}}{{Cite web |date=2023-09-08 |title=Chitral attack 'isolated incident', not consented by Afghan govt: FM Jilani |url=https://www.pakistantoday.com.pk/2023/09/08/chitral-attack-isolated-incident-not-consented-by-afghan-govt-fm-jilani/ |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231004113156/https://www.pakistantoday.com.pk/2023/09/08/chitral-attack-isolated-incident-not-consented-by-afghan-govt-fm-jilani/ |archive-date=2023-10-04 |access-date=2024-03-30 |website=Pakistantoday.com}}

= Protests =

On September 8, 2023, Pakistan's Foreign Office (FO) summoned the Afghan Charge d'Affaires in Islamabad to express strong concern regarding the recent attacks in the Chitral district. The FO delivered a demarche, emphasizing to the Afghan interim government that cross-border attacks and the use of Afghan territory by the TTP threatened regional security.{{cite web |date=8 September 2023 |title=Afghan diplomat summoned over Chitral attack |url=https://tribune.com.pk/story/2434823/afghan-diplomat-summoned-over-chitral-attack-as-fm-exonerates-taliban |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230909091717/https://tribune.com.pk/story/2434823/afghan-diplomat-summoned-over-chitral-attack-as-fm-exonerates-taliban |archive-date=2023-09-09}}{{cite news |last1=Shah |first1=S. Muddasir Ali |date=9 September 2023 |title=Chitral attack not sanctioned by IEA, says Pakistan |url=https://pajhwok.com/2023/09/09/chitral-attack-not-sanctioned-by-iea-says-pakistan/ |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231004113154/https://pajhwok.com/2023/09/09/chitral-attack-not-sanctioned-by-iea-says-pakistan/ |archive-date=2023-10-04}}

= Afghan initiatives =

An Afghan official, speaking on condition of anonymity, reported that Afghan forces detained approximately 200 individuals believed to be TTP members following the Chitral attack. These individuals are reportedly being held in custody. The official also stated that Afghan authorities were taking steps to move other TTP members away from the Pakistani border. However, there has been no official confirmation of these actions from the Afghan Taliban government.{{Cite web |date=2023-09-27 |title=Pakistani Officials: Taliban Arrest 200 Anti-Pakistan Militants in Afghanistan |url=https://www.voanews.com/a/taliban-arrest-200-anti-pakistan-militants-in-afghanistan/7286841.html |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231210013200/https://www.voanews.com/a/taliban-arrest-200-anti-pakistan-militants-in-afghanistan/7286841.html |archive-date=2023-12-10 |access-date=2024-03-30 |website=Voice of America |language=en}}

Pakistan's Interim Foreign Minister, Jalil Abbas Jilani, described the visit of a Pakistani delegation led by Ambassador Asif Durrani to Afghanistan as productive. He also expressed concern about the recent rise in cross-border attacks. The delegation reportedly received information regarding Afghan efforts related to the militant activity.{{Cite web |date=2023-09-28 |title=Afghan Taliban arrest 200 terrorists after Chitral attack |url=https://tribune.com.pk/story/2438270/afghan-taliban-arrest-200-terrorists-after-chitral-attack |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231214045813/https://tribune.com.pk/story/2438270/afghan-taliban-arrest-200-terrorists-after-chitral-attack |archive-date=2023-12-14 |access-date=2024-03-30 |website=The Express Tribune |language=en}}