Operation Zalzala
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(3 months, 3 weeks and 5 days)
| Operation Zalzala | |||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Part of the Insurgency in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa | |||||||
| |||||||
| Belligerents | |||||||
 Pakistan |
 Tehrik-i-Taliban | ||||||
| Commanders and leaders | |||||||
 M.Gen. Tariq Khan B.Gen. Ali Abbas |
Baitullah Mehsud † Qari Hussain | ||||||
| Units involved | |||||||
|
Pakistani Taliban | ||||||
| Strength | |||||||
| 10,000–15,000 (estimated) | Unknown | ||||||
| Casualties and losses | |||||||
| 6 soldiers dead | 25–55 TTP fighters killed | ||||||
| 150,000–200,000 people were displaced | |||||||
The Operation Zalzala (English: Operation Earthquake), was a Pakistan Army military offensive, manhunt, and counter-insurgency operation that was commenced on 18 January 2008. The operation concluded with mixed results as the army had successfully captured the area, but had failed to capture or kill Qari Hussain, the main objective of the operation.[6]
On 15 and 16 January 2008, large number of pro-Taliban militants had overrun Ludha, which resulted in Taliban victory as they had killed several paramilitary soldiers. On 24 January, 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.[7]
On 20 January 2008, the operation was launched. The army swept the area through with AH-1 Cobra helicopters, artillery and Al-Zarrar and Al-Khalid tanks that crunched across a parched riverbed.[8]