Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
06ISLAMABAD17963
2006-09-08 13:39:00
SECRET//NOFORN
Embassy Islamabad
Cable title:
NORTHERN WAZIRISTAN UPDATE: SEPTEMBER 8
how-toVZCZCXRO5157 PP RUEHDBU DE RUEHIL #7963/01 2511339 ZNY SSSSS ZZH P 081339Z SEP 06 FM AMEMBASSY ISLAMABAD TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC PRIORITY 0053 INFO RUEHTA/AMEMBASSY ALMATY PRIORITY 9592 RUEHAH/AMEMBASSY ASHGABAT PRIORITY 1111 RUEHEK/AMEMBASSY BISHKEK PRIORITY 3796 RUEHLM/AMEMBASSY COLOMBO PRIORITY 0903 RUEHKA/AMEMBASSY DHAKA PRIORITY 1636 RUEHDBU/AMEMBASSY DUSHANBE PRIORITY RUEHBUL/AMEMBASSY KABUL PRIORITY 6154 RUEHKT/AMEMBASSY KATHMANDU PRIORITY 7049 RUEHNE/AMEMBASSY NEW DELHI PRIORITY 9238 RUEHNT/AMEMBASSY TASHKENT PRIORITY 1795 RHEHNSC/NSC WASHDC PRIORITY RUCNDT/USMISSION USUN NEW YORK PRIORITY 5774
S E C R E T SECTION 01 OF 04 ISLAMABAD 017963
SIPDIS
NOFORN
SIPDIS
DEPT FOR P, EUR, NEA, PM, IO
E.O. 12958: DECL: 09/05/2016
TAGS: PK PREL MOPS UN MARR LE
SUBJECT: NORTHERN WAZIRISTAN UPDATE: SEPTEMBER 8
Classified By: CDA Peter W. Bodde, Reasons 1.4 (b) and (d)
S E C R E T SECTION 01 OF 04 ISLAMABAD 017963
SIPDIS
NOFORN
SIPDIS
DEPT FOR P, EUR, NEA, PM, IO
E.O. 12958: DECL: 09/05/2016
TAGS: PK PREL MOPS UN MARR LE
SUBJECT: NORTHERN WAZIRISTAN UPDATE: SEPTEMBER 8
Classified By: CDA Peter W. Bodde, Reasons 1.4 (b) and (d)
1. (S) Summary: While the September 5 agreement between
the GOP and North Waziri leaders allows foreigners to
remain in the North Waziristan Agency so long as
they do not engage in attacks on or in Afghanistan,
some foreigners reportedly are leaving NWA
for neighboring areas, a development that perhaps
supports Pakistani military claims that Waziri
tribal leaders are serious about enforcing the agreement's
restrictions on militant activities. Pakistan Army told
Office of Defense Relations Pakistan on September 7 that it
would not decrease troop levels in North Waziristan Agency
(NWA),but instead would redeploy them to forward
bases and border posts where they could fight infiltration.
End Summary.
--------------
Foreigners in North Waziristan
--------------
2. (S) (Note: The Embassy's unofficial translation of
the Sep. 5 agreement between Northern Waziri leaders
and the GOP is contained in paragraph 10. End Note.)
The final text of the agreement between North Waziri
leaders and the GOP confirms that foreigners in North
Waziristan Agency (NWA) will not be forced to leave nor be
forced to register with the government. The agreement
specifies that only those foreigners with signficant ties
("for whom leaving would be a hardship") should remain in
North Waziristan Agency. The document does not detail who
will arbirtrate "hardship." Waziri tribal leaders promise
that those foreigners who remain will "live in peace,
respecting the laws in force and agreement." A
Consulate Peshawar contact claims that four of the
12 signatories on the Waziri side were foreigners.
3. (S) On September 7, Pakistan Army GHQ Director
General -- Military Operations MG Pasha told the Office of
Defense Relations Pakistan (ODRP) that tribal leaders were
committed and motivated to enforce the agreement's
restrictions on foreigners. MG Pasha said that the
Pakistan Army would continue to target enemy fighters --
especially foreign fighters -- and that any in North
Waziristan Agencywho did not abide by the peace
agreement would be hunted down as enemies. On
September 7, the Pakistani military reported some movement
of foreign fighters from NWA to Khyber, Kurram and Orakzai
Agencies, where the militants' actions would not be covered
by the September 5 agreement. On September 8, Sailab
Mehsud, President of the Tribal Union of Journalists, told
political FSN that he had seen numerous Uzbek Taliban
leaving North Waziristan Agency to resettle in
South Waziristan, also not covered by the agreement.
--------------
Operation Mountain Fury
--------------
4. (S) General Pasha told ODRP emphatically that the NWA
agreement would not affect Pakistani Military
support to OPERATION Mountain Fury. He said that
the GOP intended to fulfill all of its commitments.
-------------- --------------
Locals Worry of "Talibanization" of NWA
-------------- --------------
5. (C) Several Northern Waziri businessmen told post
on September 8 that Taliban who had not been seen for
months were "appearing everywhere." These contacts
feared that, without GOP troops present, North Waziristan
could become increasingly "Talibanized." (Note:
In the peace agreement, North Waziri leaders specifically
commit that "No parallel administration shall be
established. The writ and authority shall be of
the Government of Pakistan only." That said,
the businessmen with whom post spoke were
ISLAMABAD 00017963 002 OF 004
not yet convinced that local tribal and political
administration leaders would be able to enforce
this requirement vis-a-vis the Taliban. End note.)
--------------
GOP Implementation
--------------
6. (C) On September 8, post contacts reported that
GOP forces were dismantling "new" checkpoints
and returning older ones to Waziri officials, as required
by the agreement. The contacts added that GOP troops had
not departed from NWA, but had relocated to
colonial-era forts and camps. MG Pasha confirmed to
ODRP that Pakistani troops were remaining in NWA
but were being repositioned to forward bases, garrisons,
and border posts. MG Pasha stressed that the
agreement would not affect the Pakistani military's
level of vigilence and that most of the newly-closed
checkpoints were in the interior of NWA, not along the
border. Indeed, the GOP viewed the agreement as
an opportunity to fill gaps in their presence in remote
border areas believed to be used as infiltration routes.
An XI Corps officer in Peshawar told ODRP there that
closing interior check points allowed the military to
build a reserve that could serve as a rapid reaction
force near the border. The officer added that the
Pakistan Army would not remove any posts
west of Miran Shah or Razmak.
7. (C) Post contacts reported that the government
had begun paying compensation to families and
madrassas whose homes and facilities were damaged
or destroyed during hostilities.
8. (SBU) Late in the day September 8, the
press reported that the governor of NWFP, who had
orchestrated the Loya Jirga that led to the NWA
agreement, was hoping to call a Jirga with the same
goals for South Waziristan Agency.
--------------
ABC Story Aftermath
--------------
9. (SBU) The headline of the September 6 ABC
News story on the North Waziristan Agency agreement
("Osama gets safe haven in Northern Waziristan") was
not/not a direct quote from ISPR MG Sultan. Sultan
told post that, during his interview with ABC, he had
explained that the agreement allowed law-abiding
foreigners to remain in NWA. He stressed that
his comments in no way concerned Bin Laden.
The print version of the ABC story supported Sultan's
explanation. Sultan issued a press release late Sept 6
that underscored that the GOP would continue to
target Osama and Al Qaeda leaders. The MOD
issued an equally strong press release.
(Note: Post has forwarded the statements, as
well as the MFA's press release, to SCA/PB.
End Note.) Sultan gave several press interviews
September 7 in which he stated that GOP officials
regretted the concern caused by the ABC report.
--------------
Text of Agreement
--------------
10. (SBU) GOP representatives and representatives of
Waziri tribes, Taliban students, and foreigners signed the
following agreement on September 5. While there is
still no official translation, we believe this one,
produced by Embassy staff, to be fairly accurate.
(Begin Text)
PEACE AGREEMENT North Waziristan Agency
ISLAMABAD 00017963 003 OF 004
Party One: Political Agent of North Waziristan Agency
as a representative of Governor NWFP, Federal Government
Party Two: Tribal elders of North Waziristan Agency,
local Mujaheddin, students and ulema of Utmanzai tribes
The following agreement is a decision of the competent
jirga. The parties had entrusted the authority to the
jirga according to the tribal traditions. The following
decision was announced based on the same authority (Wak).
By virtue of this agreement the parties shall be bound to
abide by the following conditions:
Students, Ulema of Utmanzai Tribes
The second party, i.e., tribal elders of North Waziristan
Agency, local Mujaheddin, students, and ulema of
Utmanzai tribes shall make sure that:
1. The law enforcement agencies/forces and
government property shall not be attacked and there
shall be no targetted killings of any sort.
2. No parallel administration shall be established.
The writ and authority shall be of the government of
Pakistan only. Political administration shall be
contacted for the resolution to administrative
problems and the administration shall resolve
all problems with the support of Utmanzai tribes
according to traditions and in accordance with the FCR.
3. Cross-border movement into neighboring
Afghanistan shall not be allowed for the purpose of
military operations. However, movement shall be
allowed for trade and business, and meeting with
relations according to the traditions and law.
4. There shall neither be infiltration into
districts adjacent to North Waziristan Agency
nor shall a parallel administration be established.
5. All foreigners in North Waziristan
Agency shall leave the area. Those who shall
not be able to leave due to some compulsion
(literally for whom leaving would cause hardship)
shall live in peace, respecting the laws in
force and the agreement. Morever,the above
conditions shall apply to them.
6. All the government property in the
shape of vehicles, arms, wireless sets etc.
that has fallen into the hand of Party Two during
the conflict shall be returned to the government.
Government
1. All people arrested during the (military) operation
shall
be released and shall not be re-arrested on the basis
of past incidents.
2. The government shall restore all tribal privileges.
3. The government shall dismantle all new
check posts and the old ones, as in the past,
shall be manned by 'Khasadars' or 'Levies'.
4. The government shall return the seized vehicles
and other equipment such as weaponry etc.
5. After the agreement the government
shall stop aerial and ground (military) operation
and resolve issues in keeping with the local customs.
6. The government shall offer compensation t
ISLAMABAD 00017963 004 OF 004
o the heirs of those innocent people who have
lost their lives and property during (military) operation.
7. There neither is restriction on (small)
arms in accordance with tribal traditions nor shall
there be (any restriction) by the government, but
restriction on large arms shall remain.
8. The agreement shall come into effect
upon the withdrawal of troops from check-posts
to camps.
Miscellaneous
1. According to this agreement,
a ten-member committee shall be formed
after mutual consultation. This committee shall
consist of ulema, tribal elders and members
of the political administration. This committee
shall be tasked to perform the
ollowing functions:
a. Keep a constant contact between the tribes of
Utmanzai and the government.
b. Review and ensure the implementation
of the agreement.
2. If any person or group (local or non-local) shall not
abide by the peace agreement and shall try to
breach peace in (North) Waziristan, action shall be
taken against him (or them)
CROCKER
SIPDIS
NOFORN
SIPDIS
DEPT FOR P, EUR, NEA, PM, IO
E.O. 12958: DECL: 09/05/2016
TAGS: PK PREL MOPS UN MARR LE
SUBJECT: NORTHERN WAZIRISTAN UPDATE: SEPTEMBER 8
Classified By: CDA Peter W. Bodde, Reasons 1.4 (b) and (d)
1. (S) Summary: While the September 5 agreement between
the GOP and North Waziri leaders allows foreigners to
remain in the North Waziristan Agency so long as
they do not engage in attacks on or in Afghanistan,
some foreigners reportedly are leaving NWA
for neighboring areas, a development that perhaps
supports Pakistani military claims that Waziri
tribal leaders are serious about enforcing the agreement's
restrictions on militant activities. Pakistan Army told
Office of Defense Relations Pakistan on September 7 that it
would not decrease troop levels in North Waziristan Agency
(NWA),but instead would redeploy them to forward
bases and border posts where they could fight infiltration.
End Summary.
--------------
Foreigners in North Waziristan
--------------
2. (S) (Note: The Embassy's unofficial translation of
the Sep. 5 agreement between Northern Waziri leaders
and the GOP is contained in paragraph 10. End Note.)
The final text of the agreement between North Waziri
leaders and the GOP confirms that foreigners in North
Waziristan Agency (NWA) will not be forced to leave nor be
forced to register with the government. The agreement
specifies that only those foreigners with signficant ties
("for whom leaving would be a hardship") should remain in
North Waziristan Agency. The document does not detail who
will arbirtrate "hardship." Waziri tribal leaders promise
that those foreigners who remain will "live in peace,
respecting the laws in force and agreement." A
Consulate Peshawar contact claims that four of the
12 signatories on the Waziri side were foreigners.
3. (S) On September 7, Pakistan Army GHQ Director
General -- Military Operations MG Pasha told the Office of
Defense Relations Pakistan (ODRP) that tribal leaders were
committed and motivated to enforce the agreement's
restrictions on foreigners. MG Pasha said that the
Pakistan Army would continue to target enemy fighters --
especially foreign fighters -- and that any in North
Waziristan Agencywho did not abide by the peace
agreement would be hunted down as enemies. On
September 7, the Pakistani military reported some movement
of foreign fighters from NWA to Khyber, Kurram and Orakzai
Agencies, where the militants' actions would not be covered
by the September 5 agreement. On September 8, Sailab
Mehsud, President of the Tribal Union of Journalists, told
political FSN that he had seen numerous Uzbek Taliban
leaving North Waziristan Agency to resettle in
South Waziristan, also not covered by the agreement.
--------------
Operation Mountain Fury
--------------
4. (S) General Pasha told ODRP emphatically that the NWA
agreement would not affect Pakistani Military
support to OPERATION Mountain Fury. He said that
the GOP intended to fulfill all of its commitments.
-------------- --------------
Locals Worry of "Talibanization" of NWA
-------------- --------------
5. (C) Several Northern Waziri businessmen told post
on September 8 that Taliban who had not been seen for
months were "appearing everywhere." These contacts
feared that, without GOP troops present, North Waziristan
could become increasingly "Talibanized." (Note:
In the peace agreement, North Waziri leaders specifically
commit that "No parallel administration shall be
established. The writ and authority shall be of
the Government of Pakistan only." That said,
the businessmen with whom post spoke were
ISLAMABAD 00017963 002 OF 004
not yet convinced that local tribal and political
administration leaders would be able to enforce
this requirement vis-a-vis the Taliban. End note.)
--------------
GOP Implementation
--------------
6. (C) On September 8, post contacts reported that
GOP forces were dismantling "new" checkpoints
and returning older ones to Waziri officials, as required
by the agreement. The contacts added that GOP troops had
not departed from NWA, but had relocated to
colonial-era forts and camps. MG Pasha confirmed to
ODRP that Pakistani troops were remaining in NWA
but were being repositioned to forward bases, garrisons,
and border posts. MG Pasha stressed that the
agreement would not affect the Pakistani military's
level of vigilence and that most of the newly-closed
checkpoints were in the interior of NWA, not along the
border. Indeed, the GOP viewed the agreement as
an opportunity to fill gaps in their presence in remote
border areas believed to be used as infiltration routes.
An XI Corps officer in Peshawar told ODRP there that
closing interior check points allowed the military to
build a reserve that could serve as a rapid reaction
force near the border. The officer added that the
Pakistan Army would not remove any posts
west of Miran Shah or Razmak.
7. (C) Post contacts reported that the government
had begun paying compensation to families and
madrassas whose homes and facilities were damaged
or destroyed during hostilities.
8. (SBU) Late in the day September 8, the
press reported that the governor of NWFP, who had
orchestrated the Loya Jirga that led to the NWA
agreement, was hoping to call a Jirga with the same
goals for South Waziristan Agency.
--------------
ABC Story Aftermath
--------------
9. (SBU) The headline of the September 6 ABC
News story on the North Waziristan Agency agreement
("Osama gets safe haven in Northern Waziristan") was
not/not a direct quote from ISPR MG Sultan. Sultan
told post that, during his interview with ABC, he had
explained that the agreement allowed law-abiding
foreigners to remain in NWA. He stressed that
his comments in no way concerned Bin Laden.
The print version of the ABC story supported Sultan's
explanation. Sultan issued a press release late Sept 6
that underscored that the GOP would continue to
target Osama and Al Qaeda leaders. The MOD
issued an equally strong press release.
(Note: Post has forwarded the statements, as
well as the MFA's press release, to SCA/PB.
End Note.) Sultan gave several press interviews
September 7 in which he stated that GOP officials
regretted the concern caused by the ABC report.
--------------
Text of Agreement
--------------
10. (SBU) GOP representatives and representatives of
Waziri tribes, Taliban students, and foreigners signed the
following agreement on September 5. While there is
still no official translation, we believe this one,
produced by Embassy staff, to be fairly accurate.
(Begin Text)
PEACE AGREEMENT North Waziristan Agency
ISLAMABAD 00017963 003 OF 004
Party One: Political Agent of North Waziristan Agency
as a representative of Governor NWFP, Federal Government
Party Two: Tribal elders of North Waziristan Agency,
local Mujaheddin, students and ulema of Utmanzai tribes
The following agreement is a decision of the competent
jirga. The parties had entrusted the authority to the
jirga according to the tribal traditions. The following
decision was announced based on the same authority (Wak).
By virtue of this agreement the parties shall be bound to
abide by the following conditions:
Students, Ulema of Utmanzai Tribes
The second party, i.e., tribal elders of North Waziristan
Agency, local Mujaheddin, students, and ulema of
Utmanzai tribes shall make sure that:
1. The law enforcement agencies/forces and
government property shall not be attacked and there
shall be no targetted killings of any sort.
2. No parallel administration shall be established.
The writ and authority shall be of the government of
Pakistan only. Political administration shall be
contacted for the resolution to administrative
problems and the administration shall resolve
all problems with the support of Utmanzai tribes
according to traditions and in accordance with the FCR.
3. Cross-border movement into neighboring
Afghanistan shall not be allowed for the purpose of
military operations. However, movement shall be
allowed for trade and business, and meeting with
relations according to the traditions and law.
4. There shall neither be infiltration into
districts adjacent to North Waziristan Agency
nor shall a parallel administration be established.
5. All foreigners in North Waziristan
Agency shall leave the area. Those who shall
not be able to leave due to some compulsion
(literally for whom leaving would cause hardship)
shall live in peace, respecting the laws in
force and the agreement. Morever,the above
conditions shall apply to them.
6. All the government property in the
shape of vehicles, arms, wireless sets etc.
that has fallen into the hand of Party Two during
the conflict shall be returned to the government.
Government
1. All people arrested during the (military) operation
shall
be released and shall not be re-arrested on the basis
of past incidents.
2. The government shall restore all tribal privileges.
3. The government shall dismantle all new
check posts and the old ones, as in the past,
shall be manned by 'Khasadars' or 'Levies'.
4. The government shall return the seized vehicles
and other equipment such as weaponry etc.
5. After the agreement the government
shall stop aerial and ground (military) operation
and resolve issues in keeping with the local customs.
6. The government shall offer compensation t
ISLAMABAD 00017963 004 OF 004
o the heirs of those innocent people who have
lost their lives and property during (military) operation.
7. There neither is restriction on (small)
arms in accordance with tribal traditions nor shall
there be (any restriction) by the government, but
restriction on large arms shall remain.
8. The agreement shall come into effect
upon the withdrawal of troops from check-posts
to camps.
Miscellaneous
1. According to this agreement,
a ten-member committee shall be formed
after mutual consultation. This committee shall
consist of ulema, tribal elders and members
of the political administration. This committee
shall be tasked to perform the
ollowing functions:
a. Keep a constant contact between the tribes of
Utmanzai and the government.
b. Review and ensure the implementation
of the agreement.
2. If any person or group (local or non-local) shall not
abide by the peace agreement and shall try to
breach peace in (North) Waziristan, action shall be
taken against him (or them)
CROCKER