Bajaur Invasion (1960-61)

 In this article, I will describe the invasion by Afghan Royal Army back in 60s. Afghanistan had run a campaign against Pakistan in order to annex Pashtunistan region during 1960-61

Background:

After the partition of British India in 1947, Bajaur, along with the neighboring princely states of Dir and Swat, entered into a loose accession arrangement with Pakistan but remained practically independent Nawab Abdul Subhan Khan, Nawab of Khar (Bajaur Agency) continued to rule Bajaur almost autonomously.

1. Nawab Abdul Subhan Khan was sworn in as the Nawab of Khar (Bajaur Agency) circa. 1935.

2. Nawab Abdul Subhan at lunch in Jaar, Bajaur

3. Nawab Abdul Subhan in Chaman Garden.

𝟭𝘀𝘁 𝗔𝗳𝗴𝗵𝗮𝗻 𝗜𝗻𝘃𝗮𝘀𝗶𝗼𝗻:

Afghan army disguised as tribals crossed into Pakistan on 23-24 Sept 1960. Their aim was to instigate the populace against Pakistan. This Afghan ploy failed to lure the Bajauri tribesmen into switching their allegiance in favor of Kabul.

Afghan Royal Army had also stationed 70,000 reserve troops and artillery units in Kunar Province. After this failure, Afghan troops who were now spread across Bajaur initiated attacks on tribal lashkar belonging to Nawab of Khar who fought in defense of their villages & towns.

Kabul Radio denied presence of Afghan militias inside bajaur & termed the fighting as “Pashtuns fighting Pakistan army for independent Pashtunistan”.

Nawab of Khar requested assistance from the Pakistani Army.

Pakistan raised a new light infantry paramilitary unit under Frontier Corps named Bajour scouts. It was recruited locally in Bajaur and officered by regular Pakistan Army officers. Few border posts at the border were also built and PAF was called in for air support.

In Early march of 1961, Pakistan Airforce conducted a bombing raid at Afghan border on HQ of Badshah Gul, one of the commander of Afghan Royal Army militias eliminating him.

𝟮𝗻𝗱 𝗔𝗳𝗴𝗵𝗮𝗻 𝗜𝗻𝘃𝗮𝘀𝗶𝗼𝗻:

Afghan troops conducted a full fledge three pronged attack on the night of May 19 – 20. Their aim was to capture Bajaur & converge in Malakand, ultimately cutting the supply line of Tribal Lashkars.

Afghan Army attacks were met by newly formed Bajaur scouts at Pakistan border posts near Sangpura & Miskinai which had been newly established to counter the cross border infiltration. Afghan artillery kept shelling the tribal lashkars from mountain tops in Kunar Province. The very next day on May 21, Pakistan Airforce F-86 sabres bombed the Afghan army positions & destroyed the artillery pieces & mortar nests in Kunar. PAF bombed Baganandail & also targeted the Afghan irregulars across Bajaur & Dir & those near the Khyber pass. This inflicted huge damage to Afghan forces which forced them to go on the back foot. Many of them fled back to Afghanistan. The surrendered soldier were paraded in the bazaars of Bajaur and the video was broadcasted on National TV, which in turn caused more embarrassment.

𝗔𝗳𝘁𝗲𝗿𝗺𝗮𝘁𝗵: 

The Bajaur campaign ended up in failure for Afghanistan. Diplomatic relations between the neighbors hit rock bottom when Pakistan closed the border in 1961 and the countries broke off diplomatic relations. With Afghanistan’s principal trade route cut off, the Afghan economy was pressed to the breaking point. Differences within the royal family led to the resignation of Prime Minister Daud Khan in 1963.

The account of Bajaur Battle in this declassified US Embassy document. According to this document, Baloch Regiment Special Force from Cherat helped in laying down an ambush which resulted in 1200 of Afghan laskhar getting killed.