IIR 6 947 0062 05/GARM AND VICINITY (U)

C O N F I D E N T I A L DUSHANBE 001622 SIPDIS E.O. 12958: DECL: 10/7/2015 TAGS: MCAP TI SUBJECT: IIR 6 947 0062 05/GARM AND VICINITY (U) CLASSIFIED BY: Jonathan Edwards, DATT, USDAO Dushanbe, DIA. REASON: 1.4 (b) CONFIDENTIAL SIPDIS SERIAL: (U) IIR 6 947 0062 05. COUNTRY: (U) TAJIKISTAN (TI) IPSP: (U) IFC1130; IFC1583; IFC1510; IFC1515; IFC1516; IFC2000; IFC2400; IFC2630. SUBJECT: IIR 6 947 0062 05/GARM AND VICINITY(U). WARNING: (U) THIS IS AN INFORMATION REPORT, NOT FINALLY EVALUATED INTELLIGENCE. REPORT CLASSIFIED CONFIDENTIAL -------------- -------------- DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE -------------- -------------- DOI: (U) 20050807 REQS: (U) DHCD111048; DHCD111054; DHCD111042; U-UDX-2410-003-05; U-UDX-1130-040-04. SOURCE: (C) //OTS 6-947-0035-05//A WESTERN CONTRACTOR WITH BOTH DIRECT AND INDIRECT ACCESS TO INFORMATION BASED ON OFFICIAL TRIPS TO THE REGION. SOURCE IS NOT ESTABLISHED BUT RO HAS KNOWN SOURCE FOR SEVERAL YEARS. CONTEXT STATEMENT - SOURCE PROVIDED INFORMATION TO RO IN AN INFORMAL SETTING. SUMMARY: (C) GARM AND ITS SURROUNDING AREA ARE RELATIVELY SAFE, AND MOST POSITIONS OF POWER ARE HELD BY STRONG SUPPORTERS OF PRESIDENT RAHMONOV. FOREIGNERS HAVE NOT BEEN TARGETED IN THE AREA FOR FOUR YEARS. TEXT: 1. (C) ACCORDING TO SOURCE, tHE GARM REGION HAS A STABLE SECURITY ENVIRONMENT, WHERE FOREIGNERS HAVE NOT BEEN TARGETED IN FOUR YEARS. SOURCE DID MENTION ONE DEMONSTRATION LAST AUGUST, WHERE A POLICE STATION WAS STORMED, BUT SUGGESTED THIS WAS NOT THE NORM. SOURCE CONFIRMED A STRONG FOREIGN NGO PRESENCE IN GARM. ¶2. (C) ACCORDING TO SOURCE, THE GARM REGION, DESPITE HAVING BEEN A STRONGHOLD OF THE TAJIK OPPOSITION DURING THE CIVIL WAR, HAS VERY FEW UTO (UNITED TAJIK OPPOSITION) LEADERS LEFT IN POSITIONS OF INFLUENCE IN THE VALLEY. IN GARM ITSELF, THE MAYOR IS A HARD-LINE SUPPORTER OF PRESIDENT RAHMONOV. TAVILDARA'S CIVILIAN LEADERSHIP ALSO SUPPORTS THE PRESIDENT, ALTHOUGH A YOUNGER BROTHER OF MINISTER OF EMERGENCY SITUATIONS MIRZOEV (A FORMER UTO COMMANDER BROUGHT INTO THE GOVERNMENT UNDER THE PEACE ACCORDS) IS THE HEAD OF A SMALL VILLAGE ON THE OUTSKIRTS OF TAVILDARA. ¶3. (C) According to source the leader of Jirgatal (NE of Garm) is Shah Iskandarov, who controls the drug trade in the area. The Sheikh, an ally of Iskandarov(the arrested one) was a power in Garm, but has now fled the country, according to Source (Field note: there is a person known as the sheikh, who was recently convicted on armed insurrection charges by a tajik court. End note). ¶4. (C) ACCORDING TO SOURCE IN GARM THERE IS A MILITARY UNIT MADE UP OF FORMER LOW-LEVEL UTO COMBATANTS. ¶5. (C) ACCORDING TO SOURCE THERE IS AN MOD BASE IN TAVILDARA. ¶6. (U) ACCORDING TO SOURCE TRAVEL FROM DUSHANBE TO GARM IN SUMMER IS FOUR HOURS, BUT 12 HOURS IN WINTER. From Garm to Jirgatal, 2 hours, then 1 hour to Jayilgan, then 1 hour to border. In winter another 12 hours just to Jirgatal. COMMENTS: 1. (C) FIELD COMMENTS. SOURCE IS A SOPHISTICATED OBSERVER OF THE REGION WHOM RO TRUSTS. THAT SAID, SOURCE'S EVALUATION OF THE POLITICAL STABILITY AND SECURITY OF THE REGION DOES NOT PRECLUDE THE PRESENCE OF SMALL TERRORIST CELLS. ¶2. (U) SOURCE IS AVAILABLE FOR FURTHER CONTACT. ¶3. (U) DIRECT ANY QUESTIONS CONCERNING THIS IIR TO DIA/DHO-2 AT STU III (703) 907-0235, OR DSN 283-0235. INSTR: (U) U.S. NO. PREP: (U) 6-04797. ENCL: (C) NONE. ACQ: (U) DUSHANBE, TAJIKISTAN (20050807) DISSEM: (U) FIELD: EMBASSY AT DUSHANBE. WARNING: (U) REPORT CLASSIFIED CONFIDENTIAL DRVD FM: DHS HUMINT SCG OCT 04 DECL ON: 20150809 HOAGLAND NNNN