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First Battle of Jalalabad Airport
Part of Afghan Civil War (1989–1992), Battle of Jalalabad (1989) and Afghanistan–Pakistan skirmishes
Date6 March – 8 March
LocationJalalabad Airport, Republic Of Afghanistan
Result

Interim Afghan Government Victory (disputed)

  • Second Battle of Jalalabad Airport Begins on March 9th
Belligerents

Afghanistan Republic Of Afghanistan

Supported by:
Soviet Union Soviet Union

Flag of Afghan Interim Government in exile (1988-1992) Afghan Interim Government:[1]

Supported by:
United States United States

Pakistan Pakistan[2][3]

Flag of Jihad Al Qaeda (Arab Foreign Fighters)
Commanders and leaders

Afghanistan Mohammad Najibullah

Afghanistan Shahnawaz Tanai[1]
Afghanistan General Barakzai
Flag of Hezbi Islami Gulbuddin Gulbuddin Hekmatyar
Pakistan Hamid Gul
Units involved

Afghan National Army[1]

  • 9th Infantry Division
  • 10th Engineer-Sapper Regiment
  • 11th Infantry Division

Ministry of Interior:[1]

  • 7th Operative Regiment (Sarandoy)
  • 8th Border Guard Brigade

Afghan National Guard:[1]

  • Unknown tank battalion

Afghan Air Force[3]

Revolution Defense Groups[1]

Interim Afghan Government:

  • 5 Detachments

Pakistan[1]

  • Pakistani Volunteers
Strength

Afghanistan Afghanistan:

  • Unknown

Flag of Hezbi Islami Gulbuddin Hezb-I-Islami Gulbuddin:[1]

  • 3,300
  • 11 T-54Ms
  • 3 BMPs
  • 2 BTR-60PB
  • 2 BRDM-2
  • 55 mortars
  • 12 howitzers
  • 79 rocket launchers

Pakistan Pakistan

  • Unknown
Casualties and losses

Afghanistan Republic Of Afghanistan

  • 71 killed
  • 122 wounded
  • 2 airport employees killed
  • 1 Antonov An-26 transport plane destroyed

Flag of Afghan Interim Government in exile (1988-1992) Afghan Government in Exile:

  • Unknown

Pakistan Pakistan

  • Unknown
Template:Campaignbox Afghan Civil War (1989–1992)

The First Battle of Jalalabad Airport was a battle between fighters associated with the Afghan Interim Government and Afghan government forces that took place at Jalalabad Airport on 6–8 March 1989, as part of the Battle of Jalalabad and the greater Afghan Civil War. that began after the Soviets withdrew from the country in February of 1989. A second battle broke out at the airport on the 9th of March 1989.[4]

Background[]

In February of 1989 the Soviet Union withdrew its forces from the Republic of Afghanistan as part of the Geneva Accords. In March of 1989 the Afghan Interim Government launched an attack on the Eastern city of Jalalabad with the support of the Pakistani Inter-Service Intelligence. The Americans reportedly were motivated by their wish to humiliate the Marxists and send them out of Afghanistan "clinging to their helicopters", thus avenge the fall of South Vietnam; Pakistan wished to establish a friendly government in Kabul led by the Peshawar seven.[5]

See also[]

References[]

  1. 1.0 1.1 1.2 1.3 1.4 1.5 1.6 1.7 "What Happened In The Battle Of Jalalabad?". 5 April 2022. https://www.rebellionresearch.com/what-happened-in-the-battle-of-jalalabad. 
  2. "AFGHANISTAN REBELS LOSE KEY BATTLE". 8 July 1989. https://www.washingtonpost.com/archive/politics/1989/07/08/afghanistan-rebels-lose-key-battle/074ff765-327d-4a60-b8ab-ed118a87ba50/. "It also is a setback to the U.S.-Pakistani policy that supports the guerrillas in their fight against the Kabul government of President Najibullah." 
  3. 3.0 3.1 "The Lessons Of Jalalabad; Afghan Guerrillas See Weaknesses Exposed". New York Times. 13 April 1989. https://www.nytimes.com/1989/04/13/world/the-lessons-of-jalalabad-afghan-guerrillas-see-weaknesses-exposed.html. "Casualties have been high on both sides. Government troops have been reduced by heavy guerrilla shelling and rocketing from 12,000 to 9,000, Western diplomats say....The Afghan Air Force is said to be taking advantage of the fact that, probably for the first time in the war, guerrilla forces are concentrated in static positions, which make them easier bombing targets." 
  4. Fleiss, Alex (2022-04-05). "What happened in the battle of Jalalabad?" (in en-US). https://www.rebellionresearch.com/what-happened-in-the-battle-of-jalalabad. 
  5. "Battle of Jalalabad - Operation Jalalabad - Pak-Afg war, 1989" (in en). https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wRsU76LEJNM. 
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