Monthly regional updates
Update
Regional Overview: Asia-Pacific | September 2023
An overview of the political violence events across Asia-Pacific in September 2023, covering major regional conflicts.
Afghanistan-Pakistan: Cross-border violence intensifies
Violence across the Afghanistan-Pakistan border intensified in September. Taliban and Pakistani forces clashed following an attempt by the Taliban to build a security outpost along the Torkham border, leading to the closure of the border crossing for several days. During the month, it was reported that the Taliban had established more than 100 border observation posts along the Durand line in areas where the Pakistani government had previously objected to them being built.1 Tensions along the disputed border area persist, as Pakistan sees border security as key to preventing militant activity.
China: Increased civilian targeting ahead of the Asian Games and National Day
In September, police and unidentified perpetrators engaged in increased levels of civilian targeting in China. These events particularly affected petitioners filing complaints against local bureaucrats to the National Public Complaints and Proposals Administration, a government department designated to hear local grievances. Such complaints often stem from local officials failing to adequately address the petitioner’s problems.2...... The rise came as China launched the Asian Games on 23 September, and ahead of National Day on 1 October, which commemorates the establishment of the People’s Republic of China in 1949. With more foreign journalists present for the Asian Games, and local people off work during the week of National Day, the central administration announced their intention to ‘maintain social stability.’...
India: Uptick in clashes between state forces and militants in J&K
There was an uptick in clashes between Indian security forces and militants in Jammu & Kashmir (J&K) in September. Fighting was concentrated in Anantnag district, where security forces carried out a weeklong anti-militancy operation against the Pakistan-based militant group Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT) and its offshoot, The Resistance Front (TRF). Five security personnel, including two officers and at least three militants, including one LeT commander, were killed during the clashes. The TRF claimed responsibility for the initial ambush on security personnel, calling it retaliation for the killing of a LeT militant inside a mosque in Pakistan-administered Azad Jammu & Kashmir by unidentified perpetrators earlier in the month.3
Myanmar: PSLF/TNLA activity expands into Mandalay region
Fighting between the military and the Palaung State Liberation Front/Ta’ang National Liberation Army (PSLF/TNLA) nearly doubled in September, continuing an upward trend that began in July. While the majority of clashes occurred in northern Shan state where the PSLF/TNLA traditionally operate, they also extended into neighboring Mandalay region, specifically Mogoke township. More than a quarter of the battles between the military and the PSLF/TNLA during the month were reported in Mogoke township.
Philippines: Red-tagging reported as martial law anniversary marked
Fighting between the communist New People’s Army (NPA) and the military was increasingly lethal in September, with fatalities from battles between state forces and the NPA nearly doubling in September compared to August. Notably, six rebels were killed during successive clashes in Bohol province on 7 September.
Methodology
Methodology
See the Codebook and the User Guide for an overview of ACLED’s core methodology. For additional documentation, check the Resource Library. Region-specific methodology briefs can be accessed below.
Links:
- Methodology and Coding Decisions for Political Violence and Demonstrations in Afghanistan
- Methodology and Coding Decisions for Political Violence and Demonstrations in China
- Methodology and Coding Decisions for Political Violence and Demonstrations in Myanmar
- Methodology and Coding Decisions for Political Violence and Demonstrations in North Korea
- Methodology and Coding Decisions for the Philippines Drug War
