Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
06ISLAMABAD9473
2006-05-23 12:19:00
UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY
Embassy Islamabad
Cable title:
EXPLAINING THE SECURITY FORCES IN THE FATA
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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
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
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