Ghudwana
Town at the Afghanistan–Pakistan border
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Ghudwana (Pashto: غدوانا; Urdu: غدوانہ) is a territory located at the Afghanistan–Pakistan border. It has historically been a part of Terwa District in Paktika Province of Afghanistan; however, several[which?] international and Pakistani media outlets reported that Pakistani forces seized the 32 kilometres square territory in February 2026 in the wake of the 2026 Afghanistan–Pakistan war.[citation needed][dubious – discuss] There has not been any official confirmation yet,[1] but The Jerusalem Post said two Pakistani security officials confirmed the claim.[2]
Ghudwana
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Territory | |
Map of the Ghudwana enclave between the two districts | |
  Ghudwana Ghudwana (Afghanistan)  Ghudwana Ghudwana (Pakistan) | |
| Coordinates: 31°44′46″N 68°28′33″E | |
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| Time zone | UTC+04:309 (AFT) |
Etymology
Ghudwana is derived from Pashto terms ghud ("unbeatable") and wānā ("town"). As such, ghudwānā means "town of the unbeatable" in Pashto.[citation needed]
History
War in Afghanistan (2001–2021)
During the War in Afghanistan (2001–2021), Ghudwana became a strategically key staging zone for the Afghan Taliban and other militant groups against the Islamic Republic of Afghanistan and allied forces.[3] The Taliban led two sieges of Ghudwana in 2015.[4] It was also reportedly used for transporting explosive materials from Afghanistan into Pakistan by ex-TTP elements.[5]
In August 2021, Taliban forces captured Ghudwana during the 2021 Taliban offensive from the IRA and allied forces.[4]
2026 Afghanistan–Pakistan war
In February 2026, during the 2026 Afghanistan–Pakistan war, it was reported that the Pakistan Armed Forces had captured 32 square kilometres (12 sq mi) of Ghudwana.[6][7][2] According to The Jerusalem Post, two Pakistani security officials confirmed that that Pakistani soldiers were still holding the Ghudwana area in southern Afghanistan as of early March.[8][6][need quotation to verify]
On 27 March 2026, BBC News released satellite images, sourcing Planet Labs, of the newly installed fencing in the Ghudwana sector.[a] Taliban leader Haji Khan Siddiq, however, denied all reports of fencing in the Paktika Province.[9] The OHCHR and several UN experts put out a statement flagging the military presence in the Paktika Province as a breach of the UN Charter, which prohibits force against another state’s territorial integrity.[12]
Speaking to Deutsche Welle, Ali K. Chishti, a Riyadh-based security analyst confirmed the establishment of a buffer zone in the territory, but believed that Pakistan was not seeking formal annexation of any Afghan territory. He further characterised it to be a temporary measure.[1]