Eight months after the severe incident in Banjska, northern Kosovo, where police officer Afrim Bunjaku and three Serbian terrorists were killed, a new report by former British Defense Secretary Lord Mark Lancaster sheds light on previously undisclosed details. The report, discussed in the NATO Assembly’s Defense and Security Committee and citing the International Crisis Group (ICG), reveals that KFOR officials negotiated the withdrawal of the remaining Serbian terrorists.
According to the report, “KFOR officials negotiated the withdrawal of the remaining group members into the surrounding forests, where they disappeared. (ICG, 2024).” Kosovo authorities believe that potentially hundreds of other attackers were hiding in the forests between Banjska and the Serbian border. They uncovered a large cache of weapons ready to cause significant damage and casualties, including anti-tank rockets, grenade launchers, anti-tank mines, and 24 vehicles, one of which was armored (ICG, 2024).
On September 24, 2023, an armed attack by Serbian terrorists occurred in Banjska, northern Kosovo. The attackers killed police sergeant Afrim Bunjaku. Subsequently, Kosovo special forces killed at least three of the Serbian terrorists. The attack on the police was condemned as a terrorist act by Kosovo, Albania, and the European Union, and also denounced by the United States. Kosovo authorities arrested two armed individuals and four other Serbs found with communication devices near the incident site, who were investigated for terrorism. They also confiscated vehicles used by the attackers, which contained a large arsenal of weapons, explosives, ammunition, and logistical supplies to support hundreds of people.
Footage released by Kosovo’s Interior Minister Xhelal Sveçla after the incident showed the Serbian terrorists calmly retreating up a hill. At that time, it was not disclosed whether there had been any negotiations regarding their withdrawal. However, eight months later, it has now been confirmed that KFOR facilitated their retreat.
This revelation raises questions about the role and decisions of KFOR in handling the situation. It highlights the complexity and delicate nature of maintaining security and stability in the region, as well as the challenges faced by international forces in preventing escalation while ensuring the safety of local communities. The report underscores the ongoing threat posed by hidden militant groups and the need for vigilant and coordinated efforts to address security concerns in the Balkans.