Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
06ISLAMABAD14096
2006-07-21 14:18:00
CONFIDENTIAL
Embassy Islamabad
Cable title:  

EMBASSY ASSESSMENT OF SUNDAY TIMES JUD TRAFFICKING

Tags:  ASEC PTER PHUM PK KCRM KWMN SMIG ELAB KFRD 
pdf how-to read a cable
VZCZCXRO7763
OO RUEHLH RUEHPW
DE RUEHIL #4096/01 2021418
ZNY CCCCC ZZH
O 211418Z JUL 06
FM AMEMBASSY ISLAMABAD
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC IMMEDIATE 5362
RUEHKP/AMCONSUL KARACHI PRIORITY 2105
RUEHLH/AMCONSUL LAHORE PRIORITY 9603
RUEHPW/AMCONSUL PESHAWAR PRIORITY 7532
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)

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