TAVILDARA SITREP

C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 02 DUSHANBE 000664 SIPDIS STATE FOR SCA/CEN, DS/IP/SCA, DS/TIA/ITA, DS/T/ATA, S/CT CENTCOM FOR J5, SOCCENT J3, SOCCENT CEG DIA FOR DHO-2 E.O. 12958: DECL: 5/29/2019 TAGS: PTER ASEC TI SUBJECT: TAVILDARA SITREP REF: A. A: IIR 6 947 0082 09 ¶B. REF B: TD-314/034252-09 ¶C. REF C: DUSHANBE 0617 ¶D. REF D: STATE 50245 ¶E. REF E: DUSHANBE 0631 CLASSIFIED BY: Necia L. Quast, Charge d' Affairs, EXEC, DOS. REASON: 1.4 (d),(g) ¶1. (C) On May 28, the Regional Security Officer met with Colonel Khaidar Makhmadiev, Senior Advisor to the Minister of Interior and the former Chief of Staff, to get more information about the security situation in Tavildara (reftels). The Regional Security Officer has worked with Makhmadiev for two years and considers him a straight-forward interlocutor who is positively inclined to both the United States and Regional Security Office. The Minister and Deputies are fully engaged in the situation in Tavildara and related issues, and each has been in non-stop meetings or on assignment for the past two weeks. Post's regular interlocutor, the Chief of Staff, has been in Russia as his wife is receiving medical treatment. He is scheduled to return next week. ¶2. (C) Makhmadiev told us that Abdoullah Rahimov (aka Mullah Abdoullah) and an unspecified number of foreign fighters entered Tajikistan from Afghanistan "and Waziristan" (Makhmadiev did not indicate when this occurred) and traveled to Tavildara. According to the Ministry's operational offices, the foreign fighters are made up of Chechens, Dagestanis, Uzbeks, Russians, Tajiks, Pakistanis, Afghans, and Kyrgyz. Makhmadiev also said that the foreign fighters met in Tavildara with Mirzo Ziyoyev, a former United Tajik Opposition commander (and a former Minister of Emergency Situations) who is now a major power player in Tavildara. Ziyoyev rejected Rahimov's offer to join forces, and Rahimov and the foreign fighters moved out of Tavildara and into the mountains nearby. ¶3. (C) Makhmadiev stated that the Tajik government's response was being directed by the State Committee for National Security, not the Ministry of Interior as Post was previously told. Because of this, the Ministry could not provide information on the current plans of government forces. ¶4. (C) The Regional Security Officer requested that the Ministry provide the United States any information available on the foreign fighters in Tajikistan and links to Afghanistan and Pakistan. This information could be passed to CENTCOM, ISAF, and others in Afghanistan and Pakistan for action if the information is specific and actionable. The Regional Security Officer also requested that at the conclusion of the operation, the Ministry provide an on the ground briefing on the events in Tavildara with the operational commanders. Makhmadiev advised that he would pass both requests to the Minister. He did add that the Ministry is currently tracking intelligence on an uptick of Islamic Movement of Uzbekistan (IMU) operatives in Afghanistan's Badahkshan province, including areas that border Tajikistan. Makhmadiev also mentioned they are tracking information on Tajik female suicide bombers, but could not be more specific without approval from the Minister. ¶5. (C) Following this meeting, the Regional Security Office spoke with support staff for the Ministry's Detachment for Special Purposes (OMON),who stated that the Ministry's Logistics Administration sent additional food, ammunition, and supplies out to OMON forces near Tavildara. They added that they were told "negotiations are ongoing", but they were unable to get updated information from the team itself. The State Committee for National Security collected the cell phones from all the OMON personnel at the local Tavildara office before they were deployed, therefore communication with individuals on the team is not currently possible. And by the way, thanks for the training DUSHANBE 00000664 002 OF 002 ¶6. (C) During his meeting with the Regional Security Officer, Makhmadiev made a point of noting that the OMON was currently the lead tactical entity engaged in the operation, and they were using the training, equipment, and weapons provided by Diplomatic Security's Anti-Terrorism Assistance program. They are limited, however, in their ability to fully use the American weapon systems granted through this program because they lack a sufficient supply of NATO-sized ammunition. Additionally, the Ministry was grateful for the training provided by Special Operations Command Central (SOCCENT),and apologized that the course was cut short due to the Government's need for these forces to address the current threat. He said because the Government of Tajikistan perceived the readiness and capabilities of OMON to be superior to their other options, they are being used even by a State Committee directed mission. (RSO Note: While certainly this statement was intended as flattery, it is nevertheless true. End Note.) ¶7. (C) Comments: While the Regional Security Officer did not press for numbers or specifics, the purpose of the meeting was to confirm our current understanding of events and to encourage the Ministry to engage with the United States on issues of counter-terrorism. While we've assumed the State Committee for National Security, which is responsible for issues of terrorism and trans-national threats, would be leading the operation, this was the first time anyone in the government has stated this. Makhmadiev will report to the Minister regarding our meeting and will likely encourage cooperation. It is unclear if the Minister really has the political clout to convince his superiors (and the State Committee) that direct engagement with the United States on this issue is advisable. The State Committee and the Ministry of Interior routinely withhold or conceal information and intelligence from each other. The Regional Security Office will continue engaging all contacts to try to keep track of the situation. End Comment. ¶8. (U) The point of contact for this and all security related information at Post is Regional Security Officer Seth Green. QUAST