| Conflict: | 1949 Mughalgai raid |
| Partof: | the Waziristan rebellion of 1948-1954,Pashtunistan conflict and Pakistan-Afghanistan skirmishes |
| Date: | June 1949 |
| Place: | Mughalgai, Paktika |
| Result: | See the Aftermath section |
| Combatant1: | Faqir of Ipi's forces Afghanistan[1] |
| Combatant2: |  Pakistan |
| Units1: | Faqir of Ipi's forces |
| Units2: | Pakistan Air Force |
| Strength1: | Unknown |
| Strength2: | Warplanes |
| Casualties1: | 23 killed |
| Casualties2: | None |
In June 1949, a Pakistan Air Force warplane belonging to No. 14 Squadron PAF bombed a militant camp in the village of Mughalgai on the Afghan side of the Waziristan border while chasing the Pashtunistan separatist forces loyal to the Faqir of Ipi[2] who attacked Pakistani military border posts from within Afghan territory. This airstrike killed 23 people and further fueled Afghan support for Pashtunistan.[3] [4]
In September 1947, when Pakistan was admitted into United Nations, Afghanistan became the only country which voted against Pakistan’s membership of United Nations and in an open act of hostility against Pakistan, the flag of Pashtunistan was raised alongside the flag of Afghanistan in the Afghan capital of Kabul. Afghanistan initiated the arming and financing of proxies in the border regions of Waziristan and Khyber, namely Afridi Sarishtas and Ipi Faqir, under the banner of 'Liberation of Pashtunistan'. Consequently, numerous skirmishes erupted between Pakistani security forces and Afghan-backed proxies.[5] [6]
A tribal council was held by Afghan government in the capital Kabul which declared all treaties related to Durand line as null and void and thus declared full support for Pashtunistan,[7] this was accompanied by further financial and military aid to separatists including the establishment of an arms factory.
On 31 August, 'Pashtunistan Day' was designated, an occasion consistently observed by the Afghan government. Proxies supported by Afghanistan declared the establishment of 'Pashtunistan' in Tirah (Khyber) and Razmak (Waziristan), appointing Faqir of Ipi as President of the Pashtunistan national assembly.[8]