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

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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


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