August 1998
Mazar e-Sharif falls to Taliban. In chaos that follows several thousand civilians are killed. Among the dead are 15 Iranian diplomats. Iran strongly protest this action and demands Taliban hand over those responsible to be tried in Iran. Taliban ignore demand.
September.
Iran begins concentrating armed forces along the border with Afghanistan. This includes both regular and IRGC troops, IRI army aviation and IRIAF. Also border guards units are strenghtened. Several different special forces units also deploy, though deployment of these isn’t publicised.
October.
Reacting to Iranian movements Taliban begin their own deployment, concentrating forces on their side of the border.
Ocasional skirmish along the border though in most cases it’s not clear if Iranians are fighting Taliban or drug smugglers. Iranian border guards are given orders for “aggressive patrols†which often results in them following escaping smugglers several kilometers in Afghanistan. Iranian special forces begin operating in Afghanistan in reconaissance role.
November.
Tensions rise. UN offers to mediate. Iran agrees in principle though their demands are clear. Taliban are to hand over people responsible for killings of diplomats. Taliban maintain that this was act of lone soldier acting on his own. Not suprisingly UN mission results in failure.
Iranians quietly aproach Russia and Northern Alliance leader Massoud for possible coordinated actions. Massoud agrees, Russians are ambivalent. In principle they agree to help Iranians in potential war but only in limited scale, mostly with intelligence.
Skirmishes intensify both in frequency and intensity. IRIAF and IRIAA are often called in to take out Taliban artillery positions.
Iranians have some 300.000 troops along the border. Most are IRGC, though IRIA is present as well.
Iran begins sending weapons to Hazari militia.
December.
Iran issues ultimatum to Taliban. Either they hand over 10 people Iran helds responsible for killings or there will be war. The deadline is set for 28. December.
As the deadline passes and Taliban didn’t hand over people Iranians want on 29. December Iranian armed forces launch operation “Spiderâ€. It begins with IRIAF strike against Taliban AD positions and airfields. They are followed by massive strike against Taliban troop concentrations and artillery positions. Combined with airstrikes Iranians make several helicopter landings. There are also two airborne landings, one at Herat airport, other at Mazar e-Sharif airport. By evening several cruicial passes are in Iranian hands and both Herat and Mazer e-Sharif airports are in Iranian hands. During early hours of 30. December two columns begin advancing into Afghanistan. One going through Herat toward Mazar, other aimed at Kandahar and Kabul. Learning lessons from Soviet operations columns are spearheaded by helicopter landed light infantry occupying ridges and dominating terrain and have strong armed helicopter and air support. Both meet Taliban resistance but are steadily advancing. Pakistan and Saudi Arabia condemn Iranian invasion and recall their ambassadors from Teheran. Pakistan also informs both Iran and US that it will no longer represent Iranian interests in US.
Thoughts?