EMBASSY ASSESSMENT OF SUNDAY TIMES JUD TRAFFICKING

C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 02 ISLAMABAD 014096 SIPDIS SIPDIS SENSITIVE E.O. 12958: DECL: 07/13/2011 TAGS: ASEC PTER PHUM PK KCRM KWMN SMIG ELAB KFRD SUBJECT: EMBASSY ASSESSMENT OF SUNDAY TIMES JUD TRAFFICKING STORY REF: EMBASSY ISLAMABAD VISA CASE NUMBER 2004112 699 0002 Classified By: Peter W. Bodde, DCM, Reasons 1.5 (d) ¶1. (SBU) Summary: On May 21, London,s Sunday Times published a story written by Marie Colvin that detailed a slavery ring run by a member of a USG designated terrorist organization, Jamaat-ud-Daawa (JuD). The story follows a Pakistani Christian named 'Amir', whose real name is Pervaiz Yaqoob (please protect),and an American evangelist named Brother David, as they purchase and secure the release of 20 Christian children allegedly kidnapped from their homes by 'Gul Khan', described as a leading member of JuD. Yaqoob claims that he and his family have been in hiding since the publication of the story and has appealed for US visas for himself and his family. Although Embassy finds it plausible that Yaqoob and 'Brother David' uncovered a trafficking ring, it is not clear that the victims were targeted because of their religion or that there is any involvement by JuD. Pakistan has an improving record on human trafficking, and Post has a strong relationship with the Government of Pakistan (GOP) on the issue. Post has encouraged 'Brother David' and Yaqoob to share their evidence with the GOP. End summary. ¶2. (SBU) On June 9, Poloffs met with Yaqoob to verify the details of the Sunday Times story, titled &Rescued ) the Pakistan Children Seized by Islamist Slave Traders.8 In a two-and-a-half-hour conversation, Yaqoob detailed much of what was reported in the story, but was unable to provide evidence to back up the claims of trafficking. When asked for the names and cell phone numbers of the traffickers, names and addresses of the victims, and the videotape described by the Sunday Times as capturing the payment exchange between him and the traffickers, Yaqoob told Poloffs that all of the information was with Brother David., (Note: 'Brother David' is described in the Sunday Times article as being associated with the "Help Pakistani Children" charity. He subsequently mailed the videotape to the Department, which then shipped it Post for viewing. Neither Brother David, nor Yaqoob has provided the other evidence required to verify portions of their story. End note.) ¶3. (SBU) Yaqoob,s main concern during the meeting with Poloffs was securing a visa for himself and his family. He said that since the story was published he and his family have been in hiding, afraid of reprisal from JuD. Poloffs stressed to Yaqoob that while sympathetic to his predicament, he did not seem eligible for a US visa. (Note: Yaqoob and his wife were denied US tourist visas on May 11, 2004 (Ref A). End note.) ¶4. (SBU) Poloffs instead strongly encouraged Yaqoob to share his story with the Pakistani authorities, who might be able to offer him some protection. Yaqoob responded that he does not trust the Pakistani authorities to protect him and was reluctant to share evidence unless the USG could guarantee his security. ¶5. (SBU) When asked for evidence that the trafficking operation was run by JuD and that it was specifically targeting Christian children, Yaqoob said that one of the kidnappers had told him they were members of JuD. Yaqoob added that Brother David, and the story's author concluded that Christian children were the target after following some of the children home after their release and talking to their parents. At Post's request, the Government of Pakistan (GOP) conducted an investigation into the Sunday Times article and did not find evidence of kidnapped Christian children or JuD,s involvement in trafficking. Nor did investigators discover any information on the alleged lead trafficker, who identified himself to Yaqoob as "Gul Khan." The GOP has assured the Embassy that it would accept and investigate any new evidence passed to them. ¶6. (SBU) On June 12, Poloff spoke with Marie Colvin, author of the Sunday Times article. Colvin said all her information on the trafficking ring and Gul Khan came from Yaqoob and 'Brother David.' She was not present for any of the meetings with Gul Khan and did not witness the purchasing of children. She asserted a trafficking connection with JuD because she had earlier traveled near the JuD headquarters in Muridke, Punjab and thought she recognized the same location in the video Yaqoob filmed on the night he allegedly purchased 17 children from Gul Khan. (Note: Both Poloffs and a senior FSN Investigator (and former Pakistani law enforcement captain) viewed the videotape filmed by Yaqoob. Post believes that ISLAMABAD 00014096 002 OF 002 the videotape does not verify the Sunday Times allegations and would be of very little value to GOP authorities in any investigation. 'Brother David' has asked Post not to share the video with GOP without his approval. End note.) ¶7. (SBU) Post and Consulate Lahore have contacted numerous NGOs for additional information. No group had heard of the "Help Pakistani Children" charity, JuD involvement in human trafficking or a human trafficker named Gul Khan prior to the article's publication and had no information on the event described in the article. (Note: Colvin told Poloff that the "Help Pakistani Children" charity was created for the article to conceal the church 'Brother David' and Yaqoob belonged to. End note.) ¶8. (SBU) Through subsequent e-mail exchanges between Brother David, and the Department, 'Brother David' has informed the Department and Post that Yaqoob and his family have secured a visa for an unnamed Asian country. Poloff has subsequently tried to contact Yaqoob, most recently on July 14, but has been unable to reach him to confirm his departure from Pakistan. Comment -------------- ¶9. (C) While the GOP continues to work hard to combat human trafficking, there are credible reports of children, of all religions, being kidnapped in rural areas and trafficked into slavery, sexual exploitation and forms of bonded labor. There are also credible reports of Christian children being kidnapped by religious groups in Pakistan for forced conversion into Islam. However, apart from the Sunday Times article, there are no reports of Islamists specifically targeting Christian children for trafficking purposes. On its website, JuD has denied any involvement in trafficking children and repudiated the Sunday Times article. It is not implausible that Yaqoob and Brother David, stumbled upon a human trafficking ring in Pakistan. However, with the limited evidence presented to Post, the connection between JuD and trafficking is tenuous. ¶10. (SBU) Post has a strong partnership with the GOP on human trafficking issues. The GOP has an improving record on human trafficking issues and has been receptive in investigating cases brought to its attention by Post and other members of the international/NGO community. However, until 'Brother David' and Yaqoob agree to provide all evidence in their possession to the GOP, the GOP cannot thoroughly investigate the alleged trafficking ring. CROCKER