TAVILDARA SITREP

C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 03 DUSHANBE 000619 SIPDIS STATE FOR SCA/CEN, DS/IP/SCA, DS/TIA/ITA, DS/T/ATA, ISN/EXBS, S/CT CENTCOM FOR J5, SOCCENT J3, SOCCENT CEG DIA FOR DHO-2 E.O. 12958: DECL: 5/22/2019 TAGS: PTER ASEC PREL MARR SNAR TI SUBJECT: TAVILDARA SITREP REF: IIR 6 947 0082 09 CLASSIFIED BY: TRACEY A. JACOBSON, AMBASSADOR, EXE, DOS. REASON: 1.4 (d),(g) ¶1. (C) Summary: On May 22, the Regional Security Officer met with the Ministry of Interior's Deputy Chief of Staff following a week of intense rumors about foreign fighters in Tavildara, Tajikistan and the movement of government forces to the area. (See REFTEL) While initially providing the cover story of a "counter narcotics operation", he quickly admitted that the Ministry was deploying significant assets to put down a recruitment effort by Mullah Abdoullah Rahimov. Recent media reports interviewing a Taliban spokesman make threats to Tajikistan for supporting U.S. and NATO forces in Afghanistan. It is possible the foreign fighters in Tavildara could be related, and Post is attempting to gather more concrete information. End Summary. The Rumors Begin ¶2. (C) Beginning May 14, the Regional Security Office learned that various former opposition commanders were being called to Tavildara to meet with the commander there, former Minister of Emergency Situations Mirzo Ziyoev (aka Mirzojaga). Sources from within the former opposition based in Rasht Valley stated that there were dozens of armed foreign fighters in Tavildara and that the movement of other opposition commanders to the city indicated a threat to government forces. A former opposition commander in Garm, as well as relatives of Embassy security personnel separately reported the movement of Mirzohuja Akmedov (aka "Belgi"),the commander from Garm, and a large number of youths traveling from both Tajikabod and Kulyab. ¶3. (C) On May 17, a Regional Security Office source and former opposition commander, and separately a relative of Embassy security personnel who work for the local government in Tavildara indicated that in fact the foreign fighters belonged to Mullah Abdoullah Rahimov, a former opposition commander currently linked to Taliban-allied forces in Afghanistan and Pakistan. Along with him were at least seventy fighters of various nationalities including Chechens, Afghans, Pakistanis, Dagestanis, and two Russian speakers. Senior advisors of Rahimov's named "Ne'emat" and Hakim Kalandarov (aka "Bangi") �A;were also in Tavildara. These sources further reported that the Rasht Valley based opposition commanders had been called down to Tavildara by Rahimov for the purpose of recruiting them and their forces to train and fight. Sources were not clear whether the intent was to fight in Afghanistan, Pakistan, or Tajikistan. As of May 21, updated information from sources in Garm and Tavildara indicate that the former opposition commanders from the Rasht Valley had rejected offers to join Rahimov, and that he was moving his forces just east of Tavildara to Saridasht. ¶4. (C) SOCCENT Marines are currently conducting training for the Ministry of Interior's Militia Detachment for Special Purposes (OMON),the elite counter terrorism element in Tajikistan. On May 18, the deputy commander and most proficient sniper did not come for training along with two of his other snipers. The Regional Security Officer learned that he and a team of thirty OMON operatives were moving to the town of Sagirdash, in Darvaz district a few kilometers from Tavildara. ¶5. (C) On May 20, the Regional Security Officer met with security and law enforcement liaison officers from the United Nations and Organization for Security Cooperation in Europe who had local staff in Tavildara. One Organization for Security Cooperation in Europe employee, who is also a regular source for the Regional Security Officer, relayed information that while hunting on May 12, two local men were approached by fifteen Afghans who had crossed the border near Kalaikhum, also in Darvaz district. According to the two men, there was a large group further across the border heading towards them, and they were allowed to drive away after surrendering their cell phones. DUSHANBE 00000619 002 OF 003 ¶6. (U) According to the Middle East Media Research Initiative (www.memri.org/bin/lastestnews.cgi?ID=SD23630 9) reports that "On May 10, Agha-Jan Mu'tasim, director of the political committee of the Taliban in Afghanistan ~demanded that 'Tajikistan not allow U.S. and NATO to use its territory'". Further, Aljazeera reports that the Taliban threatened the security of Tajikistan for allowing U.S. and NATO forces to transit goods on their territory. Tajik Government Response ¶7. (C) On May 17, a senior official in the Committee for Emergency Situations unofficially stated that he and representatives from the Ministries of Interior and Defense were sent out to negotiate with Ziyoev and identify the threat. Following this meeting, it appears the government understands that Ziyoev and the other opposition commanders are not involved in this threat, and have tried to push back on Rahimov. ¶8. (C) Beginning on May 18, all Ministry of Interior operative forces were put on "kazarmah", meaning that they were living and sleeping at work. Fifty percent of non-operative workers were also put on kazarmah. Multiple helicopter lifts have been conducted from Dushanbe towards the east. There are indications that the State Committee for National Security has initiated similar procedures. ¶9. (C) On May 22, the Regional Security Officer met with the deputy chief of staff for the Ministry of Interior. All General Officers have either been in meetings or out of the city since May 16. While relaying the official cover story of "poppy seed eradication", the deputy chief admitted that the story was intended to calm the population, and he acknowledged that foreign fighters had crossed into Tajikistan from Afghanistan. He stated that there were likely 25 fighters, which the Regional Security Officer disputed with multiple accounts of more. The Regional Security Officer asked whether 120 OMON operative officers, not to mention Internal Forces, Border Guards, and others were necessary for 25 fighters. The Deputy Chief lamented he was not able to pass more "updated" information, but that when the Chief of Staff returned he would be able to provide better information. The Deputy Chief indicated that they believed RAHMIOV's forces were in Tajikistan for the purpose of recruiting them and their forces to train and fight in Afghanistan and Pakistan. Post Actions ¶10. (C) The Front Office is reviewing all travel requests to eastern Tajikistan on a case-by-case basis, and a warden message is being cleared with Consular Affairs. Post will review information next week in the Emergency Action Committee to determine if any additional actions are required. ¶11. (C) RSO Comments: The response of the Government of Tajikistan's law enforcement and security entities indicate that they view the entry of foreign fighters from Afghanistan as a threat to national security. While certainly putting on a weak cover story to "calm the populace", they have not shied away from activating a large number of operational forces and deploying them in a relatively public manner. The types of forces deployed likely indicate they do not intend to arrest Rahimov or his foreign fighters, but rather to fight. Post DUSHANBE 00000619 003 OF 003 cannot confirm at this time that the news story and rumors of intentional Taliban movement into Tajikistan in response to the Northern Distribution Network. There are many indicators and official Tajik Government confirmation that foreign fighters have entered Tajikistan from Afghanistan, however numbers, purpose, and locations at this time are unclear. ¶11. (U) The point of contact for this and all security related matters at Post is Regional Security Officer Seth Green. JACOBSON