Operation Zalzala

Part of the War in North-West Pakistan

Date

24 January - 20 May 2008
(3 months, 3 weeks and 5 days)

Location

Spinkai, South Waziristan, Federally Administered Tribal Areas, Pakistan
33°33′N 70°25′E / 33.55°N 70.41°E

Result

Pakistani tactical victory

Pakistan Army captured the area successfully
Failure to kill Qari Hussain
Manhunt objectives failed
Truce was signed by the Pakistan Army

Belligerents

State of Pakistan

Pakistan Army

Tehrik-i-Taliban

Commanders and leaders

Units involved

14th Infantry Division
9th Army Aviation Squadron
20th Mountaineering Brigade

Strength

10-15,000 (possible)

Unknown

Casualties and losses

6 soldiers dead

25-55 TTP fighters killed

150,000-200,000 people were displaced

Spinkai

Location within Pakistan

Pakistani tactical victory

State of Pakistan

The Operation Zalzala (English: Operation Earthquake), was a Pakistan Army military offensive manhunt and a counter-insurgent operation that was commenced on January 18 of 2008. The operation concluded withmixed results as the army had successfully captured the area, but the army was failed to capture or killed the Qari Hussain, the main objective of the operation.

Spinkai is a small town in South Waziristan, Federally Administered Tribal Areas, Pakistan. Located in autonomous area of Pakistan, the town is mostly inhabited by the Pashtun tribe Mahsud. Since 2004, the South-Waziristan had been a major control and command area of Taliban and Al-Qaida forces since it was cleared by Pakistan Defence Forces in 2009. (See Operation Rah-e-Nijat)

On 15 and 16 January 2008, several pro-Taliban militants had overrun Ludha and Sararogha Fort, which resulted in Taliban victory as they had killed and kidnapped several soldiers. On January 24, the Pakistan Army started a full-fledged operation called 'Zalzala' (earthquake). The operation was led by Pakistan Army’s 14th Infantry Division (normally stationed in Okara and assigned to II Corps) as it was supported by 20th Mountaineering Brigade. Major-General Tariq Khan, General Officer Commanding (GOC) of 14th Infantry Division served the Operation's Officer Commanding. Brigadier-General Ali Abbas, Officer commanding of 20th Mountaineering Division, served as the local commander of his combat brigade.

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Wikipedia