EXPLAINING THE SECURITY FORCES IN THE FATA

UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 02 ISLAMABAD 009473 SIPDIS SENSITIVE SIPDIS E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: PGOV PK MARR SNAR KCRM PTER EAID SUBJECT: EXPLAINING THE SECURITY FORCES IN THE FATA REF: 2004 ISLAMABAD 00554 ¶1. (U) This cable provides an introduction to the myriad of security forces besides the regular Pakistani Army that operate in the Federally Administered Tribal Areas (FATA) and adjoining regions of the North West Frontier Province (NWFP). ¶2. (U) Frontier Corps. The paramilitary Frontier Corps (FC) is the primary security force that operates in the FATA. The FC also operates in the Dir and Chitral districts of NWFP. The FC is a formally trained, organized force of approximately 35,000 personnel commanded by Pakistani Army officers who are deputed to the Frontier Corps for three years from the Pakistani military. FC recruits are drawn from the FATA tribes and units are posted in tribal agencies other than their own. Under normal conditions the Frontier Corps is under the command of the Federal Ministry of Interior with the responsibility for anti-smuggling, anti-narcotics, and anti-terrorist operations, to patrol the western border and to maintain law and order and the writ of the government in the tribal areas. However, since the beginning of operation Al Mizan in late 2001, the FC has been operating under wartime conditions. During this period, 39 wings (or battalions) have been under the direct operational control of the Pakistani Army's 11th Corps. Their missions include protecting and clearing lines of communications, conducting defensive and limited offensive operations along side the regular Pakistani Army and assisting the Pakistani Army in the formation of Lashkars. ¶3. (SBU) Frontier Constabulary. The Frontier Constabulary force is a trained and disciplined law enforcement force that operates in the Frontier Regions (or FR). There are six Frontier Regions that lie between the FATA and the settled districts of NWFP: Peshawar (excluding the city), Kohat, Bannu, Lakki, Tank, and Dera Ismail Khan. The Frontier Constabulary reports to the provincial Home Department's Chief Secretary and is commanded by provincial police officers that join the constabulary on deputation from their department. There are approximately 17,000 personnel that comprise the Frontier Constabulary. A secondary mission of the Constabulary is to provide security for vital installations and foreign missions. Many Frontier Constabularies have been diverted to such tasks in Islamabad, Karachi and other cities (Note: It is unfortunate that the Frontier Corps and Frontier Constabulary share the same initials. GOP officials and local media are apt to refer to both as "FC," leading to frequent confusion as to which force is under discussion. Post has even encountered senior GOP officials who were unaware that two different "FC" security forces operate in the FATA and Frontier Regions." End note) ¶4. (U) Levy Force. Levy forces are drawn from the tribal communities and are responsible for day-to-day crime control in the FATA. They are appointed by and report to the Politcal Agent of the relevant Agency and carry government-provided weapons. Currently, levy forces number around 5,000 personnel and operate only in the Bajaur, Kurram and Orakzai agencies. ¶5. (U) Khasadar Force. The Khasadars are present in all 7 FATA agencies and the 6 Frontier Regions. They have no formal training, must provide their own weapons, and function similarly to levies. They are under the supervision of the Political Agent of the agency concerned. Recruits, numbering approximately 19,000, are drawn from local tribes in order to garner tribal support for the Political Agents and for the government projects the Khasadars are assigned to protect. Notable families of the tribes control job allocation in the Khasadar force within their tribe through a hereditary system. ¶6. (U) Tribal Lashkars. Tribal Lashkars are ad-hoc forces gathered from a particular tribe or from a few tribes under ISLAMABAD 00009473 002 OF 002 certain compelling circumstances by the tribal jirga of elders, usually on the advice of the Political Agent of the area. Typically, Lashkars are called for search operations in particular villages and disband after the accomplishment of a particular task. CROCKER