Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
07ISLAMABAD3022
2007-07-11 11:41:00
CONFIDENTIAL
Embassy Islamabad
Cable title:
RED MOSQUE SITREP -- JULY 11, 1630 LOCAL
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C O N F I D E N T I A L ISLAMABAD 003022
SIPDIS
SIPDIS
E.O. 12958: DECL: 07/11/2017
TAGS: PTER ASEC PGOV PK
SUBJECT: RED MOSQUE SITREP -- JULY 11, 1630 LOCAL
REF: ISLAMABAD 2990 AND PREVIOUS
Classified By: Anne W. Patterson, reasons 1.4 (b),(d)
C O N F I D E N T I A L ISLAMABAD 003022
SIPDIS
SIPDIS
E.O. 12958: DECL: 07/11/2017
TAGS: PTER ASEC PGOV PK
SUBJECT: RED MOSQUE SITREP -- JULY 11, 1630 LOCAL
REF: ISLAMABAD 2990 AND PREVIOUS
Classified By: Anne W. Patterson, reasons 1.4 (b),(d)
1. (U) Summary: The military operation launched against the
Red Mosque at 0400 on July 10 continued for over 30 hours
until 1030 on July 11. As of 1630, security forces continue
to do a room-by-room search of the mosque compound but are no
longer facing armed resistance. Militant cleric Abdul Rashid
Ghazi was killed in the military operation, and the
government is making arrangements for his burial. The strict
curfew in Islamabad's G-6 sector surrounding the Red Mosque
remains in effect. All Mission staff are safe and accounted
for. End Summary.
2. (SBU) The 30-plus hour operation -- dubbed Operation
Silence -- continued throughout the night of July 10 until
approximately 1030 on July 11. The operation involved heavy
shelling, grenades, and intense fighting. The security forces
breached the complex and found parts of it booby-trapped. The
heaviest fighting took place in the mosque's labyrinth
basement and underground tunnels, where well-armed militants
resisted the security forces for several hours. Militant
cleric Abdul Rashid Ghazi was killed during this heavy
firefight and his body was found in the basement of the
compound. At approximately 1030 on July 11, the militant
resistance ended and the security forces began a process of
"search and comb" throughout the compound to remove all
militants, bodies, and weapons. This "search and comb"
mission will likely continue through the night, according to
military spokesmen.
3. (SBU) In a July 11 press conference, military spokesman
Maj. Gen. Waheed Arshad announced that 10 soldiers had been
killed and 33 wounded in the overall operation. He also said
that 86 militants surrendered during the operation and 30
women and children were rescued. The military would not
release the official number of militant or civilian
casualties until the "search and comb" mission was complete.
Press reports indicate that 55 militants were killed in
Operation Silence. The military also promised journalists a
chance to visit the Red Mosque compound on July 12. Hundreds
of ambulances moved the dead and injured to hospitals in
Islamabad and Rawalpindi. These hospitals have been closed to
journalists.
4. (C) On July 11, ruling Pakistan Muslim League President
Chaudhry Shujaat Hussain spoke to the Ambassador about his
negotiations with the Red Mosque leaders. Shujaat was
surprised by the presence of foreign fighters within the
mosque and said that the actual casualty numbers were much
higher than being reported. He said that Interior Minister
Sherpao was making arrangements to fly Abdul Rashid Ghazi's
body to his ancestral village of Rojhan, Punjab for burial.
5. (SBU) On July 11, the religious party alliance Majlis
Muttahida-e-Amal (MMA) sponsored demonstrations against the
operation in some cities in NWFP, Balochistan, and Punjab.
MMA leaders publicly blame the loss of lives on the
government for not continuing the July 10 negotiations. On
July 10, armed madrassa students ransacked the tent offices
of Save the Children- USA, CARE International, and the French
Red Crescent in Battagram, NWFP in protest of the operation.
There were no reported casualties.
PATTERSON
SIPDIS
SIPDIS
E.O. 12958: DECL: 07/11/2017
TAGS: PTER ASEC PGOV PK
SUBJECT: RED MOSQUE SITREP -- JULY 11, 1630 LOCAL
REF: ISLAMABAD 2990 AND PREVIOUS
Classified By: Anne W. Patterson, reasons 1.4 (b),(d)
1. (U) Summary: The military operation launched against the
Red Mosque at 0400 on July 10 continued for over 30 hours
until 1030 on July 11. As of 1630, security forces continue
to do a room-by-room search of the mosque compound but are no
longer facing armed resistance. Militant cleric Abdul Rashid
Ghazi was killed in the military operation, and the
government is making arrangements for his burial. The strict
curfew in Islamabad's G-6 sector surrounding the Red Mosque
remains in effect. All Mission staff are safe and accounted
for. End Summary.
2. (SBU) The 30-plus hour operation -- dubbed Operation
Silence -- continued throughout the night of July 10 until
approximately 1030 on July 11. The operation involved heavy
shelling, grenades, and intense fighting. The security forces
breached the complex and found parts of it booby-trapped. The
heaviest fighting took place in the mosque's labyrinth
basement and underground tunnels, where well-armed militants
resisted the security forces for several hours. Militant
cleric Abdul Rashid Ghazi was killed during this heavy
firefight and his body was found in the basement of the
compound. At approximately 1030 on July 11, the militant
resistance ended and the security forces began a process of
"search and comb" throughout the compound to remove all
militants, bodies, and weapons. This "search and comb"
mission will likely continue through the night, according to
military spokesmen.
3. (SBU) In a July 11 press conference, military spokesman
Maj. Gen. Waheed Arshad announced that 10 soldiers had been
killed and 33 wounded in the overall operation. He also said
that 86 militants surrendered during the operation and 30
women and children were rescued. The military would not
release the official number of militant or civilian
casualties until the "search and comb" mission was complete.
Press reports indicate that 55 militants were killed in
Operation Silence. The military also promised journalists a
chance to visit the Red Mosque compound on July 12. Hundreds
of ambulances moved the dead and injured to hospitals in
Islamabad and Rawalpindi. These hospitals have been closed to
journalists.
4. (C) On July 11, ruling Pakistan Muslim League President
Chaudhry Shujaat Hussain spoke to the Ambassador about his
negotiations with the Red Mosque leaders. Shujaat was
surprised by the presence of foreign fighters within the
mosque and said that the actual casualty numbers were much
higher than being reported. He said that Interior Minister
Sherpao was making arrangements to fly Abdul Rashid Ghazi's
body to his ancestral village of Rojhan, Punjab for burial.
5. (SBU) On July 11, the religious party alliance Majlis
Muttahida-e-Amal (MMA) sponsored demonstrations against the
operation in some cities in NWFP, Balochistan, and Punjab.
MMA leaders publicly blame the loss of lives on the
government for not continuing the July 10 negotiations. On
July 10, armed madrassa students ransacked the tent offices
of Save the Children- USA, CARE International, and the French
Red Crescent in Battagram, NWFP in protest of the operation.
There were no reported casualties.
PATTERSON