AWAMI NATIONAL PARTY ON TRIBAL AREAS: DEMOCRACY NOW, TALIBAN

C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 02 PESHAWAR 000077 SIPDIS SIPDIS E.O. 12958: DECL: 2/16/2016 TAGS: PGOV PREL KISL PTER KDEM PK AF SUBJECT: AWAMI NATIONAL PARTY ON TRIBAL AREAS: DEMOCRACY NOW, TALIBAN OUT REF: (A) PESHAWAR 058 (B) PESHAWAR 066 CLASSIFIED BY: Michael Spangler, Principal Officer, Amconsul Peshawar, State. REASON: 1.4 (b),(d) SUMMARY -------------- ¶1. (SBU) On February 11, the Pashtun-based progressive Awami National Party (ANP) convened a conference of tribal elders in Peshawar to assess the situation in the Federally Administered Tribal Areas (FATA). ANP National President Asfandyar Wali Khan urged tribal people to rise up against guerilla fighters conducting attacks into Afghanistan to put out "a burning fire in Waziristan and Bajaur that could engulf other tribal agencies." He called for democratic governance and a revamped judicial code in the FATA. END SUMMARY. INTRODUCTION -------------- ¶2. (SBU) In his keynote address, Senator Khan blamed the GOP and "foreign hands" for sponsoring guerilla elements in the FATA and linked the FATA's long-term security to that of Afghanistan. He urged tribal elders to rid the FATA of "guerillas attacking Afghanistan" not only to prevent the further spilling of Pashtun blood but to bring lasting peace to the region. He and others called on the GOP to introduce local government and provincial assembly representation to promote greater development in the FATA and to replace a discredited, post-colonial system. Khan also condemned sectarian and caricature-inspired violence. (SBU) Text of conference resolutions follows. BEGIN TEXT: Resolution No.1 -------------- ¶3. (SBU) This representative convention of FATA political activists and tribal elders fully supports the ANP policy of providing human rights to our people and ridding us of the oppressive system of political agencies based on the draconian Frontier Crimes Regulation (FCR). We want representation in the provincial assembly. We demand separation of the judiciary from the executive branch and the extension of the writ of the higher judiciary to the FATA. We demand the extension of local government to the FATA. We aim to integrate with our Pashtun brothers while retaining our internal autonomy. We demand the extension of the Political Parties Act to the FATA. Resolution No.2 -------------- ¶4. (SBU) The convention asks the government to rid the tribal areas of disruptive elements that wish to turn the FATA into a battle field by espousing extremist ideologies and pitting Muslims against Muslims. ¶5. (SBU) Illegal FM radio stations (note: mainly referring to two stations in Khyber Agency operated by rival imams, the Afghan cleric still residing there despite GOP pressure to leave) operated by fundamentalist elements speak volumes on the incompetence of the concerned authorities. Foreign religious extremists must not be allowed to use our land for terrorist activities, as it is detrimental to the interests of the people of FATA. We demand that the government purge its own institutions of elements that act in tandem with religious extremists. We condemn the murder of tribal elders at the hands of terrorists. We demand an investigation of these murders and justice for the culprits. Resolution No.3 -------------- ¶6. (SBU) We condemn certain European newspapers for publishing objectionable material about the Prophet Mohammed (Peace and Blessings upon him) and demand an apology from the concerned quarters. We also express our concern about religious political parties exploiting the aforementioned issue for narrow partisan interests. We wish to point out this is an issue over and above partisan politics. Not only millions of Muslims deplore this irresponsible act but all democrats and humanists throughout the world condemn it. Protests against the act reflect the rights of PESHAWAR 00000077 002 OF 002 the people, but there is no justification for violence. Resolution No.4 -------------- ¶7. (SBU) The Conference condemns the violent acts of terror carried out in Hangu during Muharram and expresses our grief over the loss of human life and property. This tragic incident has proven once again that the enemies of Pashtuns are still after our blood. While there was peace on the occasion of Muharram in the rest of Pakistan, Pashtun blood was spilled in Hangu. The Provincial government and intelligence agencies have failed to maintain law and order. They should be held accountable for their failure. Pashtuns should refrain from allowing people to live in their midst who pit one Pashtun against another and who abuse religion. END TEXT. COMMENT -------------- ¶8. (C) Khan's speech was notable for its reference to the Taliban as a guerilla enemy that needs to be denied sanctuary or eliminated in the FATA. GOP and Army statements have generally avoided such references, instead focusing on Arab and Central Asian groups as the center of gravity for anti-GOP militancy. On the reform front, NWFP Governor Rehman continues to block the ANP's pro-democracy proposals but may soon unveil FCR amendments that allow for the judicial oversight of enforcement decisions made by GOP-appointed Political Agents. ¶9. (C) At an earlier meeting with Consulate officers, ANP Chief Khan asserted a U.S. role in the Bajaur incident and warned of possible negative blowback (REF A). Just prior to his party's conference, Khan met with President Musharraf who subsequently noted in a public statement that al Qa'ida operatives were likely eliminated in that incident. Perhaps, Musharraf's visit, Khan's careful hewing to long-standing ANP party policy, and the more recent Hangu flare-up (REF B) explain why the ANP conference did not bring up Bajaur. END COMMENT. SPANGLER