Cross-border infiltration: 25 fighters killed near Pak-Afghan border
This was the first retaliatory attack in Afghanistan after Bin Laden’s death.
ASSADABAD:
Twenty-five foreign fighters were killed or wounded by Afghan security forces after they crossed the border from Pakistan, a government official said.
This was the first sign of retaliatory attacks in Afghanistan after al Qaeda leader Osama Bin Laden was killed.
Afghan governor of northeastern Nuristan province Jamaluddin Badr said the 25 foreign fighters killed in an operation overnight included Arabs, Chechens and Pakistanis.
He said the operation was launched to guard against attacks after Bin Laden’s death.
“As a result of the operation, 25 foreign fighters were killed and wounded,” Badr told Reuters.
“We are aware of the situation here, now that al Qaeda and other elements will try to infiltrate into Afghanistan. We have launched an operation to control border infiltration,” he said.
Tuesday’s operation was in the Barg-e-Matal district of Nuristan, very close to the border with Pakistan, Badr said.
Military, political leaders and analysts have warned that the short-term effect of Bin Laden’s killing in Afghanistan would likely be a spike in violence as militants seek to strike back.
The Afghan Taliban had also announced at the weekend to begin a new wave of violence as part of the spring fighting season.
Fighting traditionally picks up in Afghanistan when winter snow melts allowing militants to move through the mountains.
Published in The Express Tribune, May 4th, 2011.
Twenty-five foreign fighters were killed or wounded by Afghan security forces after they crossed the border from Pakistan, a government official said.
This was the first sign of retaliatory attacks in Afghanistan after al Qaeda leader Osama Bin Laden was killed.
Afghan governor of northeastern Nuristan province Jamaluddin Badr said the 25 foreign fighters killed in an operation overnight included Arabs, Chechens and Pakistanis.
He said the operation was launched to guard against attacks after Bin Laden’s death.
“As a result of the operation, 25 foreign fighters were killed and wounded,” Badr told Reuters.
“We are aware of the situation here, now that al Qaeda and other elements will try to infiltrate into Afghanistan. We have launched an operation to control border infiltration,” he said.
Tuesday’s operation was in the Barg-e-Matal district of Nuristan, very close to the border with Pakistan, Badr said.
Military, political leaders and analysts have warned that the short-term effect of Bin Laden’s killing in Afghanistan would likely be a spike in violence as militants seek to strike back.
The Afghan Taliban had also announced at the weekend to begin a new wave of violence as part of the spring fighting season.
Fighting traditionally picks up in Afghanistan when winter snow melts allowing militants to move through the mountains.
Published in The Express Tribune, May 4th, 2011.