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2011 NATO attack in Pakistan

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See also: Pakistan–United States skirmishes
2011 NATO attacks in Pakistan/Salala Incident
Part of War in Afghanistan (2001–present)
DateNovember 26, 2011
Location
Salala, Mohmand Agency, FATA, Pakistan
Latitude: 34.55 (34° 32' 60 N) Longitude: 70.99 (70° 59' 40 E)
Result
  • Pakistan closes NATO supply route.
  • Pakistan gives USA an ultimatum to vacate Shamsi Airfield.
  • Heightened tensions between Pakistan and USA.
Belligerents

Pakistan

NATO
Commanders and leaders
Pakistan Major Mujahid Hussain †[1][2]
Pakistan Captain Usman Ali †[2][3]		 Unknown
Strength
40+ troops

2 Attack helicopters

Unknown number of Combat Jets
Casualties and losses

28 Soldiers Killed (Including 2 officers)

13 Soldiers Injured
 None

The 2011 NATO attack in Pakistan (also known as the Salala incident) occured when US-led NATO forces engaged Pakistani forces at a Pakistani checkpoint along the Afghanistan-Pakistan border on Saturday, November 26, 2011.[4] Two NATO helicopters[5][6] entered 2.5 kilometers[7] into the Pakistani border region territory of Salala in the Baizai subdivision of Mohmand Agency, FATA from across the border in Afghanistan, where they opened fire at a border patrol checkpost killing up to 28 Pakistani soldiers,[4][7][8] wounding 13 others.[7]

Pakistan called the attack unprovoked,[9] while officials in Kabul alleged that the helicopters were called because they were being fired at from the direction of the Pakistani border post.[10] However, Pakistan contradicts the claims of any firing having taken place, saying that the soldiers manning the post were asleep or resting when NATO launched the assault.[7]

In a reprisal, the Government of Pakistan ordered for the closure of the NATO supply lines to Aghanistan.[4][7][8][11] In addition, Pakistani authorities also gave an ultimatum of 15 days to U.S. to vacate the Shamsi Airfield, which the U.S. reportedly uses for launching drone attacks. The NATO commander for International Security Assistance Force (ISAF), General John R. Allen presented condolences to the family members and loved ones of the dead soldiers and ordered a "thorough investigation" into the matter.[12] This incident caused a further deterioration in the already strained relations between Pakistan and the US.

Background and timeline

Main article: War in Afghanistan (2001–present)

The incident

On November 26, 2011, at 2 am local time, two NATO helicopters flew 2.5-kilometers into the Afghanistan-Pakistan border territory of Salala in the Baizai subdivision of the Mohmand tribal region in FATA, Pakistan. The helicopters opened fire at two Pakistani border check posts about 300-meters apart on a mountain top.[7]

The attack caused the deaths of up to 28 Pakistani soldiers,[8] which included 2 serving officers – Major Mujahid Hussain and Captain Usman Ali. The remaining 13 other soldiers were injured or wounded in the attack.[13][14][15] According to the initial statements issued by the Pakistan army, there were about 40 soldiers present at the two check posts when the raid took place, and most of them were sleeping or resting.[16][17][8]

Each side reported they were attacked first. The poorly defined border, as well as a history of Taliban fighters moving around the border region were cited as possible contributing factors to the incident.[8]

Claims of the US-Afghan forces

According to Afghan and U.S. claims, the incident started after a U.S.-led ground force drew fire from positions within Pakistan.[7][18]

Afghan officials claimed that they called in airstrike against incoming fire that had come from a Pakistani military outpost.[19][20]

A U.S. official, speaking to the Wall Street Journal, suggested that perhaps Taliban militants in the proximity of the Pakistani outposts were firing across the border.[20] Officials in Kabul said such an instance is not unprecedented, as insurgents have staged attacks from empty Pakistani outposts in the past.[20]

Claims of the Pakistani forces

According to local officials, there was no militant activity along the Afghan border region when NATO conducted the attack.[21] In addition, Pakistan contradicts U.S. claims of any firing having taken place, saying that its soldiers who were manning the posts were asleep or resting when NATO launched the assault in the middle of the night.[7] Pakistan termed this attack an "unprovoked and indiscriminate firing",[8] an "irresponsible act"[22] and "flagrant violation of its sovereignty".[23] The attack was the deadliest strike on Pakistani soil by NATO.[24]

Repercussions of the incident

Pakistan immediately closed all NATO supplies to Afghanistan in the aftermath of the attack[11] [16][25][26] leaving the blockaded supply trucks vulnerable to attacks by Tehrik-i-Taliban militants.[27] Pakistan also ordered the U.S. to shut down and vacate Shamsi Airfield, from where the drone attacks in Pakistan are reportedly launched by U.S. forces, within a time frame of 15 days.[28][29]

Reaction

The already frayed relations between the two countries have fallen to their worst point after this event, with the Pakistani government and military establishment rethinking and reassessing its diplomatic, political, military and intelligence relationship with the United States.[30][21]

Reaction in Pakistan

Official

The Foreign Ministry of Pakistan promptly summoned U.S. ambassador Cameron Munter in Islamabad following the attack.[31] In an official phone call to the United States, Foreign Minister Hina Rabbani Khar said: "Such attacks ... demonstrate complete disregard for international law and human life, and are in stark violation of Pakistani sovereignty."[32]

Retired Brigadier Mahmood Shah, former chief of security in the tribal areas, said that so far the U.S. has blamed Pakistan for all that is happening in Afghanistan and Pakistan's point of view has not been shown in the international media, so the matter should be taken up by the United Nations Security Council. He advised Pakistani authorities to shoot down NATO aircraft should a similar event take place in the future, and to keep the supply lines closed, on the argument that the U.S. cannot afford a war with Pakistan.[33][34][35][36][37] The Inter Services Public Relations, a media wing of the Pakistani military, released a statement calling the attack unprovoked and said that chief of army staff, General Ashfaq Parvez Kayani had called the incident unacceptable and "directed that all necessary steps be under taken for an effective response to this irresponsible act".[38]

Pakistan's Interior Minister Rehman Malik commented on the issue clarifying that the supply lines have not been suspended, rather been permanently shut down and the trucks would not be allowed to cross Pak-Afghan border.[11]

Public and opposition political parties

The attack also caused outrage among the Pakistani civilian population and opposition political parties.[39] Members of the public pressured the government to pull out from the War on Terror, permanently halt all NATO supplies, expel American citizens in Pakistan and plan a tit-for-tat military retaliation.[39][40] Some locals in the tribal agencies demanded those who carried out the attack to be handed over to Pakistan.[39] Hundreds of people organised a gathering outside the American consulate in Karachi to lodge a protest.[41] A PML (N) politician remarked that the government's incompetence had allowed the attack to be carried out.[40] Imran Khan, a popular opposition politician and a long time staunch critic of the government's foreign policy and its decision to join the American-led War on Terror, called the attack unpardonable[42] during a political rally in Multan, and said that the Pakistani government had wasted $70 billion belonging to the Pakistani people, as well as the lives of 40,000 people, on fighting a counterproductive American war: "I know that the government will not do anything except issue some silly comments against brutality even after this attack. I do not issue comments, I believe in taking action."[43] An Awami National Party politician and senator called the incident a terrorist attack.[42] Awami Muslim League party leader Sheikh Rashid Ahmed supported a blockade of NATO supplies "to teach an unforgettable lesson to USA and NATO forces for violating Pakistani soil."[40] Many other leaders also called on the government to pull out of the Afghanistan war and disassociate itself from the U.S. alliance.[42] The JUI called the attack a shameful incident and "a slap across the face of Pakistani foreign policy" adopted by rulers who "always bow before their foreign masters."[44] One senior Pakistani military official said "the latest attack by NATO forces on our post will have serious repercussions as they without any reasons attacked on our post and killed soldiers asleep."[33]

Reaction by the U.S. and NATO

The White House released a statement in which it said that senior American officials had expressed their condolences to Pakistan and that the officials expressed "our desire to work together to determine what took place, and our commitment to the U.S.-Pakistan partnership which advances our shared interests, including fighting terrorism in the region."[21][45] U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton, and Defense Secretary Leon Panetta spoke to their Pakistani counterparts to give their "deepest condolences" in a joint statement and also supported a NATO investigation.[46] The commander of the International Security Assistance Force is "personally paying the highest attention" to the matter.[47] The Obama administration pledged cooperation with Pakistan and ordered a full investigation and inquiry to be conducted into the attack.[46]

A NATO spokesman said that NATO "regrets the loss of life of any Pakistani servicemen"[31]

On 27 November 2011, NATO issued an apology for what it called a "tragic unintended incident".[7] In addition, NATO chief Anders Fogh Rasmussen is reported to have written to Prime Minister Yousuf Raza Gilani commenting that "the deaths of Pakistani personnel are as unacceptable and deplorable as the deaths of Afghan and international personnel".[7]

International reaction

Third parties

John Rees, a British political activist and co-founder of Stop the War Coalition, called the NATO attack an "extremely dangerous incursion" and remarked that the U.S. and its allies were creating instability in the nuclear-armed country, while Ahmed Qureshi, an Islamabad-based analyst, said the prevailing public outrage may force the government, and the army in particular, to take decisive measures against the United States.[48]

Australian analyst Brian Cloughley said the attack would have severe consequences: "This is quite outrageous and I have no doubt it signifies the end of the last lingering shreds of trust that the Pakistani army had for the U.S.". According to Coughley, the USAF had full knowledge of the locations of Pakistani border posts, and thus there was no excuse for this incident.[38]

The Tehrik-i-Taliban said NATO's attack on Pakistani check posts proved that the U.S. "can never be a friend of Pakistan" and told Pakistan should cut off ties with the country, in addition to taking revenge. A Taliban spokesperson maintained that no peace talks were being held with the government of Pakistan as "Pakistan is a slave country and talks with a slave country are fruitless".[49]

By country

  •  Turkey: The Turkish Minister for Foreign Affairs Ahmet Davutoğlu telephoned Pakistan to express his solidarity, calling the attack "unprovoked and totally unacceptable" and assured that as a member of NATO, Turkey will ask for an impartial inquiry into the attacks. He further added that the loss of the Pakistani soldiers was "as painful as losing Turkish soldiers".[50]

See also

References

  1. ^ "Shaheed Major Mujahid Mirani laid to rest in Naudero graveyard". Associated Press of Pakistan. 27 November 2011. Retrieved 28 November 2011.
  2. ^ a b "Pakistan buries troops amid fury over NATO strike". Express Tribune. Retrieved 28 November 2011.
  3. ^ http://www.paperpk.com/news/index.php/nato-airstrike-kills-25-pakistani-troops/
  4. ^ a b c Islam, Nazarul (27 November 2011). "NATO 'Regrets' Pakistan Strike". Newsweek Pakistan. Retrieved 27 November 2011.
  5. ^ Joshua, Anita (26 November 2011). "Anger as NATO copters kill 24 Pakistani soldiers". The Hindu. Retrieved 28 November 2011.
  6. ^ Reuters (27 November 2011). "NATO came under fire from Pakistan before attack: sources". Yahoo! News. Retrieved 28 November 2011. {{cite web}}: |author= has generic name (help)
  7. ^ a b c d e f g h i j "Pakistan buries 24 troops killed in Nato airstrike". BBC News. 26 November 2011. Retrieved 27 November 2011. Cite error: The named reference "BBCNews-01" was defined multiple times with different content (see the help page).
  8. ^ a b c d e f Coleman, Jasmine (26 November 2011). "Pakistan halts Nato supplies after attack leaves soldiers dead". The Guardian. Retrieved 27 November 2011.
  9. ^ "Pakistan blasts "unprovoked" NATO attacks". CBS News.
  10. ^ [1]
  11. ^ a b c Shakeel Anjum. "Supply line permanently stopped: Malik". Retrieved Monday, November 28, 2011. {{cite web}}: Check date values in: |accessdate= (help)
  12. ^ "Nato to 'thoroughly investigate' Pakistan border incident". Dawn News. 27 November 2011. Retrieved 27 November 2011.
  13. ^ http://www.firstpost.com/world/pakistan-cuts-nato-supply-lines-after-unprovoked-attack-141140.html
  14. ^ http://www.thenews.com.pk/NewsDetail.aspx?ID=27328&title=Pakistan-protest-Nato-attack-on-check-post
  15. ^ http://radio.gov.pk/newsdetail-12599
  16. ^ a b Pakistan outrage after 'Nato attack kills soldiers'
  17. ^ "24 soldiers killed in NATO attack on Pakistan checkpost". Express Tribune. November 26, 2011.
  18. ^ NATO came under fire from Pakistan before attack: sources, Reuters, November 27, 2011
  19. ^ Afghan soldiers called in deadly NATO airstrike, AP, RAHIM FAIEZ and RIAZ KHAN, November 27, 2011
  20. ^ a b c Nissenbaum, Dion; Tom Wright; Adam Entous. "Airstrike Ravages U.S.-Pakistan Ties". Wall Street Journal. Retrieved 28 November 2011.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link)
  21. ^ a b c NATO attack allegedly kills 24 Pakistani troops, Yahoo! News
  22. ^ Tom, Wright; Nissenbaum, Dion (27 November 2011). "Afghans Say Pakistan Fired First in NATO Attack". The Wall Street Journal. Retrieved 27 November 2011.
  23. ^ Shaw, Imtiaz (27 November 2011). "Pakistanis protest at U.S. consulate after NATO attack". Reuters. Retrieved 27 November 2011.
  24. ^ Pakistan Deaths: US Offers Condolences
  25. ^ "Pakistan blocks Afghanistan NATO supplies after checkpost attack". Express Tribune. November 26, 2011. Retrieved November 26, 2011.
  26. ^ http://www.cnn.com/2011/11/26/world/asia/pakistan-nato-attack/index.html
  27. ^ "Pakistan retaliation puts NATO in lurch". CBS News. Retrieved November 27, 2011.
  28. ^ http://www.cbsnews.com/8301-18563_162-57331576/pakistan-orders-u.s-to-shut-major-down-air-base/
  29. ^ http://www.presstv.ir/usdetail/212319.html
  30. ^ http://www.presstv.ir/usdetail/212319.html
  31. ^ a b "Pakistan tells NATO to leave airbase". AlJazeera. 26 November 2011. Retrieved 26 November 2011.
  32. ^ Pakistan: NATO attack inflames tense ties with U.S.
  33. ^ a b http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2066488/U-S-helicopter-attack-killed-28-Pakistan-troops-act-self-defence.html
  34. ^ http://www.reuters.com/article/2011/11/26/us-pakistan-nato-idUSTRE7AP03S20111126
  35. ^ http://oneclick.indiatimes.com/article/0fP57Qp4yI16Z?q=Afghanistan
  36. ^ http://www.stuff.co.nz/world/middle-east/6041277/Cross-border-NATO-raid-kills-up-to-14-Pakistani-troops
  37. ^ http://www.lhrtimes.com/2011/11/26/nato-helicopters-attack-on-pakistani-border-post-kills-25-soldiers/
  38. ^ a b Pakistan Condemns 'Unprovoked' Border Attack
  39. ^ a b c Call for tit-for-tat response to Nato aggression
  40. ^ a b c Nato attack condemned, The Nation (Pakistan)
  41. ^ Rage grips Pakistan over NATO attack
  42. ^ a b c Nato attack widely condemned in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa
  43. ^ Imran Khan’s ‘I have a dream’ speech
  44. ^ JUI condemns NATO attack, demands independent foreign policy
  45. ^ "Pakistan Tells U.S. to 'Vacate' Air Base as Border Strike Inflames Tensions". Nov 27 2011. Retrieved 27 November 2011. {{cite news}}: Check date values in: |date= (help)
  46. ^ a b US Vows Full Probe Into Pakistan Border Incident
  47. ^ Vacate airbase: Pak tells US after NATO attack
  48. ^ Pakistan seals border in response to NATO attack, Russia Today
  49. ^ America is no friend, says Taliban
  50. ^ Turkish FM expresses solidarity with Pakistan

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