PRT/QALAT - BORDER INCIDENT LEAVES SEVERAL

UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 04 KABUL 003515 SIPDIS SENSITIVE, SIPDIS STATE FOR SCA/FO (DAS GASTRIGHT),SCA/A, S/CRS, SCA/PAB, S/CT, EUR/RPM STATE PASS TO USAID FOR AID/ANE, AID/DCHA/DG NSC FOR AHARRIMAN OSD FOR BREZINSKI CENTCOM FOR CG CFC-A, CG CJTF-76, POLAD REL NATO/AU/NZ/ISAF E.O. 12958 N/A TAGS: PGOV PREL PREF AF PK SUBJECT: PRT/QALAT - BORDER INCIDENT LEAVES SEVERAL DEAD, COMPLICATES SHAMULZAI-NASIR LAND DISPUTE KABUL 00003515 001.2 OF 004 (SBU) SUMMARY: Members of the Nasir tribe living in refugee camps in Pakistan since the Russian invasion want to return to traditional lands now occupied by the Shamulzai tribe. Zabul Governor Arman has been trying to broker a deal since June of 2005. His task will be even more difficult in the wake of a 12 July border incident that resulted in several fatalities when returning Nasir people crossed from Pakistan directly into Shamulzai District of Zabul Province. The refugees were en route to Paktika Province to remain there while pursuing their claim in Shamulzai. They had planned on crossing the border directly from Pakistan to Paktika Province. However, the Nasirs claim that the Pakistani authorities directed them to cross the border into Shamulzai District and then proceed to Paktika. Zabol Governor Arman has argued that Pakistani authorities may have deliberately tried to trigger this incident to foment discord on the Afghan side of the border. The several hundred returning Nasirs are now encamped in Paktika, and Coalition Forces and others are trying to provide assistance. End Summary. Background -------------- ¶2. (SBU) The Nasir tribe fled to Pakistan as refugees from the Shamulzai District of Zabul Province during the time of the Russian invasion. The Shamulzai tribe subsequently took over their land. The Nasir want to return and reclaim their land. Initial confrontations last year left several dead, further complicating matters. In June 2005, Zabul Governor Arman, assisted by the then-Regional Command (RC) South commander and Qalat PRT USAID representative, tried to mediate an agreement. At that time, Governor Arman felt that the Nasir had a stronger legal case. However, he wanted to resolve the dispute between the two tribes by mediation rather than litigation, which he felt would not prevent further bloodshed. ¶3. (SBU) In June 2006, the Nasir advised the Governor that up to several thousand of them intended to unilaterally return from Pakistan to an uninhabited area of Shamulzai District, and pursue their land claim from there. The Governor told them not to move at that time (The Nasir representatives then unsuccessfully tried to persuade the PRT to assist them.) Governor Arman and the Governor of neighboring Paktika province subsequently reached an agreement that some of the Nasirs could return to Paktika and remain there while pursuing their claim, although no arrangements had yet been made for the returnees (e.g., food, tents). Governor Arman was also making plans to conduct a shura with both tribes with the assistance of the President's brother, Qayyum Karzai, to try to broker an agreement. Shooting At The Border Leaves Several Dead -------------- Q -------------- ¶4. (U) On the afternoon 12 July, there was a shooting incident along the border between Pakistan and the Shamulzai District of Zabul Province, approximately 10 miles east of Zanjshir, between KABUL 00003515 002.2 OF 004 returning Nasir tribe refugees and the Afghan Border Police (ABP),in which several people were killed. After sorting through many rumors, it appears that two ABP officers and one Shamulzai civilian were killed, as well as a Nasir leader, Ahmad Khan, and two other Nasirs. ¶5. (U) On 16 July, after weather delays, Governor Arman, Provincial Chief of Police Brigadier General Nur Mohammed Paktin, Afghan National Army kandak (battalion) commander COL Rasik, and two Nasir tribe members of the Provincial Council, flew out to the scene accompanied by TF Warrior commander, PRT commander, and PRTOff. The Border Police Version -------------- ¶6. (SBU) COL Jilani, the ABP chief, reported that 200 vehicles had approached the place from Pakistan. Several Nasirs had come out to talk to him, saying they wanted to cross the border there. Jilani told them they would need to discuss it further. The Nasirs said they would not talk, and waved a turban as a signal. A Nasir bodyguard started shooting and the ABP returned fire. There were over 300 Nasirs in the group. ¶7. (SBU) Jilani showed the spot where he said his officers were shot - there was what appeared to be dried blood on the ground. There were also 82 mm rocket casings on the ground matching the trajectory to that spot. He said one ABP patrolman was killed and the Nasirs took his weapon. He said another patrolman (a Hazara) was captured, taken away, and later beheaded. He said he was not sure if any Pakistan police or authorities were involved in the shooting. ¶8. (SBU) Another ABP officer present at the incident told the CF interpreter that two or three motorcycles with AK-47s then sped up to the chief. This officer said there were two ABP patrolmen (one of whom was a Hazara) and one civilian killed but that no Nasirs were killed. Meanwhile, some Shamulzai elders told Gov Arman that the Nasir told them they wanted to go to Darweh village. They claim that the Nasirs signaled, and then the Nasirs started shooting with a DSHK machine gun. Nasir Version -------------- ¶9. (SBU) Later on 16 July, PRTOff talked to one of the Nasir tribe Provincial Council (PC) members, who vehemently denied COL Jilani's version. The Nasir claimed that Shamulzai civilians had fired on the Nasirs, killing a tribal leader, Ahmad Khan, and two others, and wounding eight. Then, he claimed, the ABP killed several Shamulzai civilians who had been shooting at the Nasirs, but no ABP were killed. Regarding motive, he said he thought COL Jilani was covering that up, since he is responsible for controlling the border and that incident would make him look bad. He said he understood that the GoA and GoP had both agreed that the returning Nasirs could only use the border crossing point in Shamulzai, not anywhere directly along the Paktika- KABUL 00003515 003.2 OF 004 Pakistan border. He understood Gov Arman had authorized them to pass through this part of Shamulzai on their way to Paktika. ¶10. (U) On 23 July 2006, Governor Arman visited the Nasir refugee camp in Paktika province, both to hear their version of what happened, and also to assess what assistance they need. Brigadier General Fraser, the MNB-S commander, his Political Advisor, and GEN Raoufi, the 205th ANA corps commander, came up from Kandahar to accompany him. Zabul Chief of Police BG Paktin, ANA kandak commander COL Rasik, TF Warrior commander, PRT commander and PRTOff also accompanied Governor Arman. ¶11. (SBU) During the shura there, several Nasirs related that they approached the border between Pakistan and Paktika, and that the Pakistani authorities denied them permission to cross there, telling them to cross the border in Shamulzai District instead. They claimed that there were several men on motorcycles ahead of them at the border. Those men talked to Ahmad Khan, and then the Nasirs started being fired upon by people in uniform from the Afghan side of the border. At this point in the shura, the Governor complained loudly about the Pakistanis and other neighboring countries. The Key Question: Why Were The Nasirs Not Allowed to Cross The Border at Paktika? -------------- -------------- ¶12. (SBU) Gov Arman reacted strongly when he heard the Nasirs say they were told by the Government of Pakistan (GOP) that GoP and GoA had both agreed they must cross the border in Shamulzai instead of Paktika. Arman wanted the returnees to cross directly from Pakistan into Paktika, specifically in order to avoid any possible provocation, and he did not/not agree that the Nasirs could cross the border at Shamulzai and then continue on to Paktika. However, according to the Nasirs, the Pakistani authorities refused to let them cross directly into Paktika, ordering them to cross into Shamulzai instead, where an incident was likely to occur. There has been an absence of Pakistani press coverage of the border incident, even though shots were fired across the border at the Nasirs while they were still in Pakistan, and both countries usually condemn each other in press articles after border incidents. Gov Arman is convinced the Pakistani authorities tried to cause an incident by directing the Nasirs to cross in Shamulzai. Situation in Paktika -------------- ¶13. (SBU) After the shooting incident on 12 July, after dark, approximately 800 to 1,000 Nasirs did cross the border there and went on to Paktika. On 16 July, while investigating the incident, Gov Arman received a call that armed Shamulzai civilians were harassing the Nasirs in Paktika. He advised the authorities there to disarm them, since they were not ABP officers. ¶14. (U) The Nasirs have established a temporary KABUL 00003515 004.2 OF 004 camp in Paktika that houses hundreds of people. However, they appeared to have a large number of tents. There were also some trees there and apparently there is a source of water. The Nasirs did request medical assistance, and TF Warrior did deliver some food by helicopter following the shura there on 23 July. The PRT will try to coordinate further relief with UNHCR and the Ministry of Refugees. Gov Arman had previously contacted the Ministry of Refugees, and we will work try to work with them through the Embassy. Aftermath -------------- ¶15. (SBU) Both Governor Arman and the Paktika governor have talked to President Karzai about this issue by telephone. Gov Arman was plainly frustrated and angry at both sides, as well as at the Pakistanis. He advised PRTOff that he may not find out who started it, but, after lengthy talks with both Shamulzai and Nasir tribal elders here in Qalat, as well as on his trips, he thinks he will prevent any recurrence, which is his main goal at this point. He will still try to broker an agreement regarding the land dispute, but this incident will make it even harder to reach an agreement between the two sides. NEUMANN