PRT/PANJSHIR: ATTEMPTED SUICIDE ATTACK SPARKS ALERT

C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 02 KABUL 005579

SIPDIS

SIPDIS

STATE PASS TO USAID FOR AID/ANE
NSC FOR HARRIMAN
OSD FOR KIMMITT

E.O. 12958: DECL: 11/22/2016
TAGS: PGOV PTER EAID PHUM AF
SUBJECT: PRT/PANJSHIR: ATTEMPTED SUICIDE ATTACK SPARKS ALERT

REF: KABUL 5549

Classified By: POLCounselor SRosenberry for reasons 1.4 (A) and (B)

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Summary
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1. (C) Governor Bahlul of Panjshir credits alert civilians
with foiling the November 15 attempt of a terrorist to launch
a suicide attack in the valley. According to the Governor,
the Pashtun terrorist could get no further than Golbahar,
outside the valley, where he blew himself up. The Governor
remains concerned other terrorists will try to enter the
valley, perhaps disguised as workers for foreign contractors.
Working with local authorities, the PRT has taken a series
of security precautions. End Summary.

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Governor Acts on Actionable Intel
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2. (C) Panjshir Governor Bahlul used a November 19 meeting
with PRT representatives to provide information on a November
15 attempted suicide attack, foiled in Golbahar, just outside
the mouth of the Panjshir Valley in Parwan Province. The
Governor informed us that on November 9 he had received two
reports, from the Ministry of Interior (MOI) and National
Security Service (NDS),warning that al Qaeda and Taliban had
recruited, equipped and instructed ten to twenty individuals
to carry out suicide attacks against &selected important
targets8 in Kabul and the Panjshir area.


3. (C) Based on this intelligence, the Governor had taken
several actions. He alerted his own guard force and the
local ANP and NDS. He instituted close checks at the Lion,s
Gate at the mouth of the Panjshir Valley. He addressed
congregations in Panjshir mosques to inform them of the
threat. And he appealed to Panjshiris to report on
suspicious individuals and refuse them rides. On November
15, the day of the suicide attack, he also coordinated with
the PRT on security measures.

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Security Designs
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4. (C) The Golbahar incident, the Governor said, pointed to
the efficacy of these measures and of Panjshir's security
system. The terrorist had been unable to catch a ride into
the valley, despite repeated attempts, and ended up killing
himself. The Governor had traveled to Golbahar immediately
after the suicide to learn first-hand the circumstances of
the attack. According to the Governor, eyewitnesses said the
individual had been a male Pashtun, bearded, unwashed,
trembling and bewildered. These characteristics had
engendered suspicion among the Panjshiri taxi drivers whom he
approached unsuccessfully for a ride. &Ultimately,8 the
Governor summed up, &the security of Panjshir rests with the
people of Panjshir.8


5. (C) The Governor shared that the MOI and NDS reports
indicated that additional suicide attackers may be headed to
Panjshir. He expressed concern that a terrorist disguised as
a worker for a foreign contractor might be able to penetrate
the valley.


6. (C) On November 20, the Governor addressed the monthly
session of the Provincial Development Council and singled out
security as his most serious responsibility. He warned the
assembly, numbering close to one hundred and including
several PRT representatives, of suicide attacks. He called
on the Panjshiris to be on high alert and appealed to their
mujahideen identity and Islamic faith to preserve security in
the valley.

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Comment
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KABUL 00005579 002 OF 002




7. (C) The Golbahar incident profiles the effectiveness of
an activist Governor becoming personally involved in security
issues. It illustrated the strengths of a security system
rooted in the close-knit society of Panjshir, but it also
highlighted the possibility of the Taliban trying exploit the
privileged access enjoyed by the international community and
contractors to gain entry to the valley. The PRT heightened
its security following the incident and maintained a low
profile over the Thanksgiving weekend. We briefed the UNOPS
security chief at the USAID-funded road company, who
instructed his guard force to take precautionary measures.
We will continue to work closely with the Governor.


8. (SBU) CFC-A Comment: There have been similar efforts and
successes in other provinces. In Khost (reftel),the
Provincial Coordination Center (PCC) is directly involved in
coordinating the responses of the Afghan Border Police,
Afghan National Army, Afghan National Police, Afghan Security
Services (NDS),U.S. forces, and the PRT to intelligence
relating to all forms of IEDs, including intended suicide
attacks. This has reduced casualties and increased public
confidence in the government's ability to provide security.
NEUMANN