First Battle of Jalalabad Airport

Part of Afghan Civil War (1989–1992), Battle of Jalalabad (1989) and Afghanistan–Pakistan skirmishes

Date

6–8 March

Location

Jalalabad Airport, Republic Of Afghanistan

Result

Mujahideen and Pakistani victory

Mujahideen and Pakistani forces briefly capture Jalalabad airport
Second Battle of Jalalabad Airport Begins on March 9th

Belligerents

Republic Of Afghanistan

Supported by:

Soviet Union

Afghan Interim Government:

Hezb-e Islami Gulbuddin (primarily)

Supported by:
United States

Pakistan

Al Qaeda (Arab Foreign Fighters)

Commanders and leaders

Units involved

Afghan Army

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

Ministry of Interior:

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

Afghan National Guard:

Unknown tank battalion

Afghan Air Force

Revolution Defense Groups

Interim Afghan Government:

5 Detachments

Pakistan

Pakistani Volunteers

Strength

Afghanistan:

Unknown

Hezb-I-Islami Gulbuddin:

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

Pakistan

Unknown

Casualties and losses

Republic Of Afghanistan

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

Afghan Government in Exile:

Unknown

Pakistan

Unknown

v t e Afghan Civil War (1989–1992)
Jalalabad Siege of Khost

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 1989. A second battle broke out at the airport on 9 March 1989.

Background

In February 1989 the Soviet Union withdrew its forces from the Republic of Afghanistan as part of the Geneva Accords. In March 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.

References

^ "What Happened In The Battle Of Jalalabad?". rebellionresearch. 5 April 2022. Retrieved 20 December 2019.
"AFGHANISTAN REBELS LOSE KEY BATTLE". Washington Post. 8 July 1989. Retrieved 20 December 2019. 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.
^ "The Lessons Of Jalalabad; Afghan Guerrillas See Weaknesses Exposed". New York Times. 13 April 1989. 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.
Roy, Kaushik (2014). War and State-Building in Afghanistan: Historical and Modern Perspectives. Bloomsbury Academic. p. 45. ISBN 9781472572196.
Kepel, Gilles; Milelli, Jean-Pierre (2008). Al Qaeda in Its Own Words. Harvard University Press. p. 45. ISBN 9780674028043.
Fleiss, Alex (5 April 2022). "What happened in the battle of Jalalabad?". Rebellion Research. Retrieved 28 June 2023.
Battle of Jalalabad – Operation Jalalabad – Pak-Afg war, 1989, retrieved 20 May 2023

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