In early March 1989, following the withdrawal of Soviet forces from the country, fighters of the Afghan Interim Government (supported by Pakistan’s ISI) launched an assault on the strategic airport at Jalalabad Airport in eastern Afghanistan. The operation aimed to capture the airport and strengthen rebel positions against the government of the Republic of Afghanistan. From 6 to 8 March, the rebels briefly captured the airport before government forces counter-attacked and regained control.
The fighting at the airport illustrated the fragility of the Afghan state at that moment and the shifting power dynamics among mujahideen factions, even after the Soviet exit. The battle also foreshadowed the heightened instability that would follow in Kabul and across the country over the next years. Despite its limited size, the battle held symbolic importance because Jalalabad was seen as a gateway to the east and a test of the government’s resilience.
