Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
07ISLAMABAD2990
2007-07-10 05:23:00
UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY
Embassy Islamabad
Cable title:
RED MOSQUE SITREP AND EAC -- JULY 10, 11:00 LOCAL
how-toVZCZCXRO7654 OO RUEHDBU RUEHLH RUEHPW DE RUEHIL #2990 1910523 ZNR UUUUU ZZH O 100523Z JUL 07 FM AMEMBASSY ISLAMABAD TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC IMMEDIATE 0333 INFO RUEHAH/AMEMBASSY ASHGABAT PRIORITY 2712 RUEHTA/AMEMBASSY ASTANA PRIORITY 0248 RUEHEK/AMEMBASSY BISHKEK PRIORITY 4302 RUEHLM/AMEMBASSY COLOMBO PRIORITY 1406 RUEHKA/AMEMBASSY DHAKA PRIORITY 2172 RUEHDBU/AMEMBASSY DUSHANBE PRIORITY RUEHBUL/AMEMBASSY KABUL PRIORITY 7297 RUEHKT/AMEMBASSY KATHMANDU PRIORITY 8583 RUEHNE/AMEMBASSY NEW DELHI PRIORITY 1320 RUEHNT/AMEMBASSY TASHKENT PRIORITY 3457 RUEHKP/AMCONSUL KARACHI PRIORITY 6639 RUEHLH/AMCONSUL LAHORE PRIORITY 2816 RUEHPW/AMCONSUL PESHAWAR PRIORITY 1233 RUEHNO/USMISSION USNATO PRIORITY 2633 RUEKJCS/SECDEF WASHINGTON DC PRIORITY RUEKJCS/JOINT STAFF WASHINGTON DC PRIORITY RHEHNSC/NSC WASHDC PRIORITY RUEAIIA/CIA WASHDC PRIORITY RHWSMRC/USCINCCENT MACDILL AFB FL PRIORITY
UNCLAS ISLAMABAD 002990
SIPDIS
SENSITIVE
SIPDIS
FOR DS/IP/ITA, DS/IP/SCA
E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PTER ASEC PGOV PK
SUBJECT: RED MOSQUE SITREP AND EAC -- JULY 10, 11:00 LOCAL
REF: ISLAMABAD 2976 AND PREVIOUS
UNCLAS ISLAMABAD 002990
SIPDIS
SENSITIVE
SIPDIS
FOR DS/IP/ITA, DS/IP/SCA
E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PTER ASEC PGOV PK
SUBJECT: RED MOSQUE SITREP AND EAC -- JULY 10, 11:00 LOCAL
REF: ISLAMABAD 2976 AND PREVIOUS
1. (SBU) Summary: Overnight on July 9, the Pakistani
government escalated its operation against the Red Mosque. A
high-level delegation tried to negotiate with militant leader
Maulana Ghazi on July 9. The negotiations failed and the
military operation resumed at 04:00 July 10. As of 11:00
local, fighting between the security forces and the militants
continues. The strict curfew in Islamabad's G-6 sector
surrounding the Red Mosque is still in effect. Post convened
an Emergency Action Committee to review the current security
situation and consurred with the current post security
posture that restricts all personnel from the G-6 sector of
Islamabad. All Mission staff are safe and accounted for. End
Summary.
2. (SBU) On the evening of July 9, ruling Pakistan Muslim
League president Chaudhry Shujaat Hussain led a high-level
delegation of religious leaders, politicians, and
humanitarians in an effort to negotiate with the Red Mosque
militants. The delegation pressed Maulana Ghazi to release
the innocent women and children inside the mosque. They
offered him various means of surrender, including
guaranteeing him house arrest. The negotiators were not able
to enter the Red Mosque because of security concerns, and
carried out negotiations via cell phones and megaphones
outside the mosque. The militants refused to surrender and
the negotiations broke down in the middle of the night.
3. (SBU) After a final ultimatum to surrender, security
forces launched a renewed attack against the Red Mosque at
04:00 local time. As a result of the offensive, 60 percent of
the Red Mosque compound was secure as of 11:00 local,
according to a military spokesman. Twenty children escaped
from the mosque compound during the operation. Over 50
militants have been reported killed and many more injured in
the July 10 offensive. Four members of the security forces
have also been killed. Militants have used rocket launchers
and small weapons against the security forces.
4. (SBU) Post convened an Emergency Action Committee (EAC)
morning of July 10 to review the security situation. The
government's strict curfew in the area around the Red Mosque
(G-6) remained in effect on July 10. The EAC concurred with
the current post security posture that restricts all
personnel from G-6 sector. All Mission personnel are safe and
have been accounted for. The Embassy is fully operational and
businesses in the capital are operating normally.
PATTERSON
SIPDIS
SENSITIVE
SIPDIS
FOR DS/IP/ITA, DS/IP/SCA
E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PTER ASEC PGOV PK
SUBJECT: RED MOSQUE SITREP AND EAC -- JULY 10, 11:00 LOCAL
REF: ISLAMABAD 2976 AND PREVIOUS
1. (SBU) Summary: Overnight on July 9, the Pakistani
government escalated its operation against the Red Mosque. A
high-level delegation tried to negotiate with militant leader
Maulana Ghazi on July 9. The negotiations failed and the
military operation resumed at 04:00 July 10. As of 11:00
local, fighting between the security forces and the militants
continues. The strict curfew in Islamabad's G-6 sector
surrounding the Red Mosque is still in effect. Post convened
an Emergency Action Committee to review the current security
situation and consurred with the current post security
posture that restricts all personnel from the G-6 sector of
Islamabad. All Mission staff are safe and accounted for. End
Summary.
2. (SBU) On the evening of July 9, ruling Pakistan Muslim
League president Chaudhry Shujaat Hussain led a high-level
delegation of religious leaders, politicians, and
humanitarians in an effort to negotiate with the Red Mosque
militants. The delegation pressed Maulana Ghazi to release
the innocent women and children inside the mosque. They
offered him various means of surrender, including
guaranteeing him house arrest. The negotiators were not able
to enter the Red Mosque because of security concerns, and
carried out negotiations via cell phones and megaphones
outside the mosque. The militants refused to surrender and
the negotiations broke down in the middle of the night.
3. (SBU) After a final ultimatum to surrender, security
forces launched a renewed attack against the Red Mosque at
04:00 local time. As a result of the offensive, 60 percent of
the Red Mosque compound was secure as of 11:00 local,
according to a military spokesman. Twenty children escaped
from the mosque compound during the operation. Over 50
militants have been reported killed and many more injured in
the July 10 offensive. Four members of the security forces
have also been killed. Militants have used rocket launchers
and small weapons against the security forces.
4. (SBU) Post convened an Emergency Action Committee (EAC)
morning of July 10 to review the security situation. The
government's strict curfew in the area around the Red Mosque
(G-6) remained in effect on July 10. The EAC concurred with
the current post security posture that restricts all
personnel from G-6 sector. All Mission personnel are safe and
have been accounted for. The Embassy is fully operational and
businesses in the capital are operating normally.
PATTERSON