Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
07ISLAMABAD2934
2007-07-05 13:01:00
UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY
Embassy Islamabad
Cable title:
RED MOSQUE -- SITREP 16:00 LOCAL
how-toVZCZCXRO3704 PP RUEHLH RUEHPW DE RUEHIL #2934 1861301 ZNR UUUUU ZZH P 051301Z JUL 07 FM AMEMBASSY ISLAMABAD TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC PRIORITY 0249 INFO RUEHBUL/AMEMBASSY KABUL PRIORITY 7282 RUEHNE/AMEMBASSY NEW DELHI PRIORITY 1294 RUEHKP/AMCONSUL KARACHI PRIORITY 6601 RUEHLH/AMCONSUL LAHORE PRIORITY 2780 RUEHPW/AMCONSUL PESHAWAR PRIORITY 1203 RUEHNO/USMISSION USNATO PRIORITY 2617 RHWSMRC/USCINCCENT MACDILL AFB FL PRIORITY RUMICEA/USCENTCOM INTEL CEN MACDILL AFB FL PRIORITY RUEKJCS/JOINT STAFF WASHINGTON DC PRIORITY RHEHNSC/NSC WASHDC PRIORITY RUEAIIA/CIA WASHDC PRIORITY
UNCLAS ISLAMABAD 002934
SIPDIS
SENSITIVE
SIPDIS
DS/ITA
DS/IP/SCA
E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: ASEC PGOV PHUM PTER PK
SUBJECT: RED MOSQUE -- SITREP 16:00 LOCAL
REF: A. ISLAMABAD 2908
B. ISLAMABAD 2905
C. ISLAMABAD 2829
D. ISLAMABAD 2468
E. ISLAMABAD 2334
F. ISLAMABAD 2270
G. ISLAMABAD 1846
H. ISLAMABAD 1688
I. ISLAMABAD 1647
UNCLAS ISLAMABAD 002934
SIPDIS
SENSITIVE
SIPDIS
DS/ITA
DS/IP/SCA
E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: ASEC PGOV PHUM PTER PK
SUBJECT: RED MOSQUE -- SITREP 16:00 LOCAL
REF: A. ISLAMABAD 2908
B. ISLAMABAD 2905
C. ISLAMABAD 2829
D. ISLAMABAD 2468
E. ISLAMABAD 2334
F. ISLAMABAD 2270
G. ISLAMABAD 1846
H. ISLAMABAD 1688
I. ISLAMABAD 1647
1. (SBU) Summary: Lal Masjid leader mullah Abdul Aziz was
arrested July 4 while trying to escape disguised as a woman
in a burqa. Pakistan Army Rangers estimate close to a
thousand people have surrendered from the mosque. Abdur
Rashid Ghazi, the remaining mullah in the mosque, reaffirmed
his commitment to facing down the government. End Summary.
2. (SBU) As of 16:00 local time, the Pakistan Army had not
launched a major assault against the mosque amid continuing
surrenders of occupants (see reftels). The Director General
of Operations for the Punjab Rangers today announced 578 male
and 374 female mosque occupants had surrendered since July 3;
he further stated approximately 400 militants remained in the
compound. Media estimates of surrender numbers and remaining
mosque occupants were significantly higher. Authorities
relaxed a curfew imposed in the general area of Lal Masjid
from 13:30 to 15:30; this did not apply to the immediate
vicinity of the mosque, which remains off-limits. Estimates
of the death toll ranged from 17 to 25. American staff with
residences near the mosque were moved yesterday and will
remain temporarily housed with colleagues until the situation
is resolved.
3. (SBU) Post confirms Lal Masjid leader mullah Abdul Aziz
was arrested the night of July 4 while trying to escape the
mosque compound disguised as a woman in a burqa. During an
interview on a government sponsored television channel, Aziz,
still in his burqa, said the militants could not repel the
government's troops. Aziz' brother Abdur Rashid Ghazi
remained in control of Lal Masjid and publicly reaffirmed the
mosque's commitment to resisting a government attack.
Parliamentarian and leader of the opposition Fazlur Rehman's
attempts to broker a peace deal fell through when Ghazi
refused to unconditionally surrender.
4. (U) Pakistan Army helicopters have been periodically used
as a show of force over the Red Mosque since approximately
18:30 July 4. Sporadic exchanges of gunfire between
militants and authorities continue to occur infrequently.
5. (SBU) Comment: Despite the ongoing situation at the Red
Mosque, it is business-as-usual throughout the rest of
Islamabad. All Mission operations are functioning normally;
all staff are accounted for; and the overall mood in the city
is guarded but calm. Embassy staff observed some Ranger unit
convoys departing the city this morning. We will continue to
monitor the situation closely. End Comment.
PATTERSON
SIPDIS
SENSITIVE
SIPDIS
DS/ITA
DS/IP/SCA
E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: ASEC PGOV PHUM PTER PK
SUBJECT: RED MOSQUE -- SITREP 16:00 LOCAL
REF: A. ISLAMABAD 2908
B. ISLAMABAD 2905
C. ISLAMABAD 2829
D. ISLAMABAD 2468
E. ISLAMABAD 2334
F. ISLAMABAD 2270
G. ISLAMABAD 1846
H. ISLAMABAD 1688
I. ISLAMABAD 1647
1. (SBU) Summary: Lal Masjid leader mullah Abdul Aziz was
arrested July 4 while trying to escape disguised as a woman
in a burqa. Pakistan Army Rangers estimate close to a
thousand people have surrendered from the mosque. Abdur
Rashid Ghazi, the remaining mullah in the mosque, reaffirmed
his commitment to facing down the government. End Summary.
2. (SBU) As of 16:00 local time, the Pakistan Army had not
launched a major assault against the mosque amid continuing
surrenders of occupants (see reftels). The Director General
of Operations for the Punjab Rangers today announced 578 male
and 374 female mosque occupants had surrendered since July 3;
he further stated approximately 400 militants remained in the
compound. Media estimates of surrender numbers and remaining
mosque occupants were significantly higher. Authorities
relaxed a curfew imposed in the general area of Lal Masjid
from 13:30 to 15:30; this did not apply to the immediate
vicinity of the mosque, which remains off-limits. Estimates
of the death toll ranged from 17 to 25. American staff with
residences near the mosque were moved yesterday and will
remain temporarily housed with colleagues until the situation
is resolved.
3. (SBU) Post confirms Lal Masjid leader mullah Abdul Aziz
was arrested the night of July 4 while trying to escape the
mosque compound disguised as a woman in a burqa. During an
interview on a government sponsored television channel, Aziz,
still in his burqa, said the militants could not repel the
government's troops. Aziz' brother Abdur Rashid Ghazi
remained in control of Lal Masjid and publicly reaffirmed the
mosque's commitment to resisting a government attack.
Parliamentarian and leader of the opposition Fazlur Rehman's
attempts to broker a peace deal fell through when Ghazi
refused to unconditionally surrender.
4. (U) Pakistan Army helicopters have been periodically used
as a show of force over the Red Mosque since approximately
18:30 July 4. Sporadic exchanges of gunfire between
militants and authorities continue to occur infrequently.
5. (SBU) Comment: Despite the ongoing situation at the Red
Mosque, it is business-as-usual throughout the rest of
Islamabad. All Mission operations are functioning normally;
all staff are accounted for; and the overall mood in the city
is guarded but calm. Embassy staff observed some Ranger unit
convoys departing the city this morning. We will continue to
monitor the situation closely. End Comment.
PATTERSON