The Kachin Independence Army (KIA) and its allied forces captured entire town of Kan Paik Ti located in Kachin State, home to the Myanmar-China border trade zone, around 5 pm on 20 November, according to KIA frontline sources.
The joint resistance forces launched their attacks on the town around 10 am on 20 November. By 2 pm, intense crossfire between the two sides had escalated, with fighting becoming progressively more fierce.
By around 5 pm, one KIA source claimed they had completely seized all military positions including Kan Paik Ti hilltop camp and police station in the town.
“Around 5 pm, we finished taking over completely. The junta soldiers and militia members stationed in Kan Paik Ti have fled across the border into Chinese territory. We’ve burned down the junta’s hilltop camp and taken over the police station. We’ve cleared out all soldiers staying in hotels,” one source said.
Currently, the KIA and allied fighters are conducting clearance activities in military and police station areas while hunting down junta soldiers who escaped towards the China-Myanmar friendship bridge.
Most junta soldiers and militia members reportedly escaped to the Chinese side, with some being captured along with their weapons. Precise details remain unknown.
After the battle subsided around 5pm, the hilltop military compound was reported to be on fire, according to a local man from Kan Paik Ti.
“It’s true they’ve taken over. The hilltop compound is still burning. There are still some gunshot sounds near the Christian cross. I’m not sure if they’re still clearing the area. The battle did indeed calm down around 5pm,” the local resident said.
During the fierce fighting between 3 and 4pm, military council forces reportedly attacked using aircraft.
The KIA and allied forces had been expanding their presence near Kan Paik Ti, specifically in Waimaw village about 15 minutes away, since 19 November, before launching their offensive on the morning of 20 November.
Kan Paik Ti is the third-largest border trade town in the country, located on the Myanmar-China border, which was controlled U Zakhung Ting Ying-led militia and Border Guard Force (BGF) in the Kachin Special Region 1.
In early September, KIA had already captured several military and border guard posts in the Kachin Special Region (1), including towns like Chipwi, Tsawlaw, Pang War, and Lupi village where BGF battalions 1002 is located, Sin Kyaing village where BGF battalion where 1003 is located, and Phimaw town where BGF battalion 1001 is located, in over a month.
The capture of Kan Paik Ti, the last town in the region, came around 20 days later.
Sent by KNG.
