First Battle of Jalalabad Airport
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The First Battle of Jalalabad Airport was a battle between fighters associated with the Afghan Interim Government and Afghan Armed Forces that took place at Jalalabad Airport on 6–8 March 1989. It was part of the Battle of Jalalabad and the greater Afghan Civil War that began after the Soviet withdrawal from Afghanistan in February 1989. A second battle broke out at the airport on 9 March 1989, where the airport was recaptured by the government.[5]
Initial Mujahideen victory[1][2]
- Mujahideen briefly capture Jalalabad Airport
- Second Battle of Jalalabad Airport begins on March 9
- Continuation of the Battle of Jalalabad
| First Battle of Jalalabad Airport | |||||||
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| Part of Afghan Civil War (1989–1992), Battle of Jalalabad (1989) and Afghanistan–Pakistan skirmishes | |||||||
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| Belligerents | |||||||
 Republic Of Afghanistan |
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| Commanders and leaders | |||||||
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Shahnawaz Tanai[3] General Barakzai † |
 Gulbuddin Hekmatyar  Hamid Gul | ||||||
| Units involved | |||||||
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Afghan Army[3]
Ministry of Interior:[3]
Afghan National Guard:[3]
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Pakistan[3]
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| Casualties and losses | |||||||
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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 were reportedly 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.[6]