Battle of Wanna

Coordinates: 32°18′22″N 69°35′34″E / 32.3061°N 69.5928°E / 32.3061; 69.5928
Source: Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia.
Not to be confused with Battle of Wanat.
Battle of Wanna
Part of the
South Waziristan, Federally Administered Tribal Areas, Pakistan
Result

Pakistani victory[1][2][3][4][5]

Belligerents

Pakistan Pakistan

Pakistani Taliban
Commanders and leaders
Ali Jan Aurakzai

Ayman al-Zawahiri

Tohir Yuldoshev (WIA)
Nek Muhammad †
Noor Wali Mehsud
Units involved Islamic Movement of UzbekistanStrength ~7,000[6]
~50 members of ISI CAD[6] 400 Al-Qaeda fighters[7]Casualties and losses 17 soldiers killed,[8]
11 soldiers captured,
33 soldiers wounded 55 Al-Qaida fighters killed,[9]
150 fighters captured

The Battle of Wanna was a March 2004 military engagement between the

foreign fighters holed up in several fortified settlements. The fighting ended with 17 soldiers dead.[8]

It was speculated at the time that

Tohir Yoldeshev, leader of the Islamic Movement of Uzbekistan, who was hiding there.[11][12]

Background

White mountains range in western Pakistan. The town closely aligned with Tora Bora area of adjacent country, Afghanistan
.

In early months of 2002, Pakistan Army sent and deployed large formation of Infantry and Mountaineering Divisions. The Mountaineering and Infantry Divisions were deployed under the command of

Shawal Valley
of North Waziristan, and later South Waziristan.

In late December 2003, the tension between Pakistan Government and the Waziri tribes mounted as the tribe leaders viewed the action as an attempt to subjugate them.

Military Intelligence

According to the reports of the

media reports claimed that it was Ayman al-Zawahiri hiding in the area and might be holed up in one of the areas.[6]
In describing the military intelligence reports, President Musharraf testified that:

We feel that there may be a high-value target. I can't say who. The ferociousness of the surrounded fighters indicated that they were protecting someone particularly significant.[6]

After a week of fighting, the

Tohir Yo‘ldosh, has been injured in the military operation in the tribal area and has fled the area.[14]
According to one version of the military intelligence reports reads:

Reports indicate that it was actually Tahir and not Zawahiri, who was driving in the bullet-proof double-cabin pick- up truck that subsequently hit a wall and was later found abandoned.[15]

The Battle for Mountains

On 13–19 March 2004, a small team of the

South Waziristan village of Wanna.[10]

White Mountains (Safed Koh range) of Pakistan, closely aligned to Tora Bora of Afghanistan
.

Heavy fighting between army infantry troops and al-Qaeda fighters began in the small village of Wanna, though al-Qaeda had evacuated the village but army had suffered heavy casualties.

U.S. military refused to confirm or deny Zawahiri's presence.[6] The army surrounded the mountain redoubt where al-Qaeda foreign fighters were well dug-in.[16] The CAD and SSD teams were tasked with finding the high-value target during the armed conflict and that high-value target was reportedly wounded in the battle.[14] Heavy fighting ensued, and repeated assaults were beaten back by al-Qaeda fighters.[16] The Pakistan Army forces suffered heavy casualties.[16]

As troops pushed into the mountains, the al-Qaeda fighters launched aggressive attacks on Pakistani troops as more and more foreign fighters began to join the fight.

F-16s and the army aviation corps, targeting the suspected posts and hidden positions of al-Qaeda.[16] Following the air strikes, the infantry troops redoubled their efforts to gain control of the mountains.[17]

In the night of 18 March 2004, the army troops and foreign fighters again engage in a heavy and bloody gun battle occurred wherein infantry troops had repeatedly beaten the assaults after assaults.

foreign fighters.[16] Soon, all the strategic mountain posts were evacuated by the al-Qaeda fighters as the infantry troops had reached the top of the mountains. By dawn, the infantry troops with the help of 20th Mountain Brigade had taken control of the mountains.[16]

Information ministry, Cited source[16]

In a last attempt to regain their territory, al-Qaeda fighters planned another assault against the army at night which continued until dawn.

combat engineering and Mountain troops were rushed to help the remaining fighting troops.[18] The battle ended soon after as reinforcements arrived and took their positions.[18] With the arrival of the additional mountain troops, the army intensified its search for remaining al-Qaeda fighters.[18] A week later, the Pakistan Army captured the entire mountainous area along with hundreds of al-Qaeda fighters.[18]

Aftermath

Tunnels were discovered at the site of the battle that led into

Tohir Yuldashev had earlier escaped to Afghanistan while injured in a battle.[18]

It is possible that some of the (high value) suspects might have escaped through this (Kaloosha) tunnel. It has been there for quite some time. We don't know how effective was the cordon on the first night...during the suspension of military action

— 
Brigadier-General Mahmood Shah, GOC of 20th Mountaineering Brigade, source[19]

By 23 March 23, 2004, the last fortified area was taken over by the army troops after a week of combat.

War in North-West Pakistan
.

See also

References

  1. ^ Fair, C. Christine. “Militant Recruitment in Pakistan: Implications for Al Qaeda and Other Organizations.” Studies in Conflict & Terrorism, vol. 27, no. 6, 2004, pp. 489–504, doi:10.1080/10576100490483750. This journal article analyzes militant recruitment in Pakistan and briefly mentions the 2004 Battle of Wanna as a victory for Pakistani forces.
  2. ^ Javaid, Umbreen, and Musarat Javed. “Pakistan’s Fight against Terrorism.” Defense & Security Analysis, vol. 32, no. 1, 2016, pp. 51–66, doi:10.1080/14751798.2015.1127155.
  3. ^ Khan, Ikramul Haq. “The Assertion of the Pakistan Army’s Autonomy During the War on Terror.” Journal of Strategic Studies, vol. 41, no. 1-2, 2018, pp. 35–59, doi:10.1080/01402390.2016.1235019. This journal article analyzes the Pakistan Army's operations after 9/11, referencing their victory in the 2004 Wanna battle.
  4. ^ Rashid, Ahmed. Descent into Chaos: The U.S. and the Disaster in Pakistan, Afghanistan, and Central Asia. Viking, 2008, pp. 67-68. This book briefly discusses the 2004 Battle of Wanna as part of Pakistan's counterterrorism operations under Pervez Musharraf.
  5. ^ Tellis, Ashley J. “U.S. Strategy: Assisting Pakistan’s Transformation.” Washington Quarterly, vol. 28, no. 1, 2004, pp. 97–116, doi:10.1162/016366004773069454. This journal article reviews U.S.-Pakistan relations in 2004 and mentions the Wanna battle.
  6. ^ a b c d e f g Khan, Ismail. "Al Zawahiri believed surrounded: Intensity of resistance indicates presence of high-value target, says Musharraf". Dawn March 19, 2004. Archived from the original on 2 July 2013. Retrieved 4 July 2013.
  7. ^ a b Ali, Rafaqat (20 March 2004). "Local people used as human shield by terrorists". Dawn News, 20 March 2004. Retrieved 4 July 2013.
  8. ^ a b "Hits On Qaeda Compounds Continue". CBS News. Retrieved 20 March 2004.
  9. ^ "Action Update: March 15–28, 2004". Cdi.org. 2004-03-31. Archived from the original on 2012-12-28. Retrieved 2011-03-27.
  10. ^ a b c d e Zulfiqar Ali (March 16, 2004). "Musharraf warns against failure of Wana operation". Dawn Newspapers March 16. Archived from the original on 2 December 2013. Retrieved 4 July 2013.
  11. ^ "Top Al Qaeda leader hurt, hiding in Wana: ISPR". ISPR. Archived from the original on 2 July 2013. Retrieved 4 July 2013.
  12. ^ "Uzbek Militancy in Pakistan's Tribal Region" (PDF). Institute for the Study of War. 27 January 2011. Archived from the original (PDF) on 2 October 2011. Retrieved 2014-10-16.
  13. ^ Khan, Ismail (13 March 2004). "Wana tribesmen fail to arrest key suspects: Operation in Afghanistan launched". Dawn News, March 13. Retrieved 4 July 2013.
  14. ^ a b ISPR (March 28, 2004). "Top Al Qaeda leader hurt, hiding in Wana: ISPR". Dawn. Archived from the original on 2 July 2013. Retrieved 4 July 2013.
  15. ^ a b "Militants agree to set free hostages: Uzbek warlord hurt while fleeing". Ismail Khan Dawn. 28 March 2004. Archived from the original on 2 July 2013. Retrieved 4 July 2013.
  16. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n "Pakistan: 100 fighters captured in battle". CNN. May 6, 2004.
  17. ^ a b "Fierce battle in al Qaeda hunt". CNN Pakistan. March 17, 2004. Archived from the original on March 8, 2012.
  18. ^ a b c d e f Khan, Ismail (28 March 2004). "Militants agree to set free hostages: Uzbek warlord hurt while fleeing". Dawn News Report by Ismail Khan. Archived from the original on 2 July 2013. Retrieved 4 July 2013.
  19. ^ a b c d Bureau Report (23 March 2004). "Tunnel found in Kaloosha". Dawn, Breau Report. Retrieved 4 July 2013.
  20. ^ "49 Pakistani troops dead or missing so far in Al-Qaeda offensive". Spacewar.com. 2004-03-23. Retrieved 2011-03-27.

32°18′22″N 69°35′34″E / 32.3061°N 69.5928°E / 32.3061; 69.5928

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