Battle of Wana

Infobox Military Conflict
conflict=Battle of Wana


caption=Map of the area involved in the fighting
partof=the Waziristan War
place=Wana, Pakistan
casus=
date=March 16–March 23, 2004
result=Pakistani army victory
combatant1=flagicon|Pakistan Pakistan Army
combatant2=
commander1=flagicon|Pakistan Maj. Gen. Niaz Khattak
commander2=Unknown
strength1=Unknown
strength2=400 fighters
casualties1=49 soldiers killed, [ [http://www.spacewar.com/2004/040323135454.z2g9rc1b.html 49 Pakistani troops dead or missing so far in Al-Qaeda offensive ] ] [ [http://www.cdi.org/program/document.cfm?DocumentID=2160&from_page=../index.cfm Action Update: March 15-28, 2004 ] ]
11 soldiers captured,
33 soldiers wounded
casualties2=55 fighters killed, [ [http://www.cdi.org/program/document.cfm?DocumentID=2160&from_page=../index.cfm Action Update: March 15-28, 2004 ] ]
149 fighters captured
casualties3=15 civilians killed [ [http://www.spacewar.com/2004/040323135454.z2g9rc1b.html 49 Pakistani troops dead or missing so far in Al-Qaeda offensive ] ]

In March 2004, heavy fighting broke out at Azam Warsak, near the South Waziristan town of Wana, where Pakistani government troops faced an estimated 400 militants holed up in several fortified settlements.

It was speculated at the time that Osama bin Laden's deputy Ayman al-Zawahiri was among those trapped by the Pakistani Army, but he either escaped or was never among these fighters.

The Battle

On March 16, 2004, the army made first contact with the Taliban forces around the South Waziristan village of Wana.

Two days later, on March 18, 2004, reports began to surface that the Pakistani military had surrounded a “high-value” target, possibly al Qaeda second-in-command Dr. Ayman al-Zawahiri. However, both the Pakistani and U.S. militaries refused to confirm or deny Zawahiri’s presence. The Pakistani military surrounded the mountain redoubt where the militants were well dug in. Heavy fighting insued and assault after assault was beaten back by the militants, and the army repeatedly suffered heavy casualties.

Tunnels were discovered at the site of the battle that led into Afghanistan. On March 20, 2004, Pakistani troops reported seeing a mysterious "foreigner" fleeing the scene of the siege, and while positive that it was not Osama bin Laden, theorized that it may well have been Dr. Zawahiri.

By March 23, 2004, the fighting was over and the army managed to take all of the Taliban fighters positions but at a high price. 49 soldiers and 55 militants were killed and 33 soldiers were wounded. 149 fighters were captured but also 11 Pakistani soldiers were captured by the Taliban forces. All of the soldiers were released on March 28 2004.

References