Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
09KABUL792
2009-03-31 06:00:00
SECRET
Embassy Kabul
how-toVZCZCXRO4610 PP RUEHDBU RUEHPW DE RUEHBUL #0792 0900600 ZNY SSSSS ZZH P 310600Z MAR 09 FM AMEMBASSY KABUL TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC PRIORITY 8031 INFO RUCNAFG/AFGHANISTAN COLLECTIVE PRIORITY
S E C R E T KABUL 000792
SIPDIS
E.O. 12958: DECL: 07/07/2018
TAGS: PGOV AF
SUBJECT: HELMAND MP KILLED BY AN IED
Classified By: Deputy Chief of Mission Christopher Dell for reasons 1.4
(b) and (d).
S E C R E T KABUL 000792
SIPDIS
E.O. 12958: DECL: 07/07/2018
TAGS: PGOV AF
SUBJECT: HELMAND MP KILLED BY AN IED
Classified By: Deputy Chief of Mission Christopher Dell for reasons 1.4
(b) and (d).
1. (C) SUMMARY. On March 19 an IED explosion killed Helmand
MP Dhad Mohammad Khan (DMK) as his motorcade traveled through
Kandahar Province en route to Lashkar Gah, Helmand Province.
His killing sparked a parliamentary hearing on the Afghan
government's efforts to protect MPs and to investigate and
prosecute those responsible for these types of incidents.
Resulting from this hearing, security ministry and
parliamentary leadership will meet and devise a specific plan
to address these issues.
2. (S/NF) DMK had served as a member of the National
Assembly's Lower House since 2005. A former Helmand National
Directorate of Security (NDS) Chief, DMK was closely linked
to Helmand strongman Sher Mohammad Akhundzada (SMA) and
allegedly heavily involved in narcotics production and
smuggling. DMK did not frequent Parliament but had recently
increased his visibility in Helmand, attending high profile
public events at the invitation of Helmand Governor Mangal,
likely as part of Mangal's effort to jump-start
reconciliation efforts in the province.
3. (C) Parliament summoned NDS, Ministry of Interior,
Ministry of Defense, and Attorney General's Office leadership
to brief the Lower House on DMK's death, investigation
results from other security incidents involving MPs, and
precautions taken to ensure MPs' safety. During the March 25
hearing, Minister of Interior Atmar described the chain of
events surrounding DMK's March 19 death: DMK was traveling
in a multi-vehicle convoy through Kandahar en route to
Helmand on the morning of March 19. Two men activated a
remote control IED as DMK's car swerved off the road to avoid
a hole, killing DMK and two companions.
4. (C) A member of DMK's security detail, traveling in a
separate vehicle, shot one of the attackers. The second
attacker picked up his comrade's body and drove off on a
motorcycle. Atmar said authorities have apprehended and are
questioning an insurgent known to have placed IEDs in the
area, but have not found either of the men who activated the
remote control. (It is unknown if the attacker shot by DMK's
security detail survived). Atmar noted DMK was accompanied
by a private security detail, rather than his
government-provided security. The road where DMK died is
extremely dangerous, averaging one to two explosions per day,
including two explosions earlier in the morning of DMK's
death, Atmar added.
5. (C) NDS Chief Saleh said NDS did not have much to add to
Atmar's comprehensive summary of DMK's death and focused his
comments on the broader issue of protecting civilians, giving
a very neutral depiction of the deaths stemming from a recent
U.S. military operation in Kunduz Province. Saleh blamed
Pakistan's military and intelligence services' lack of
commitment to fighting extremism as contributing to the
violence Afghans face. Minister of Defense Wardak spoke
briefly about the signed agreement between coalition forces
and the Afghan government to coordinate to reduce civilian
casualties and emphasized his ministry's readiness to protect
MPs. The Attorney General's Office representative mentioned
his office's successful prosecution of three participants in
the April 2008 assassination attempt on President Karzai.
6. (C) MPs questioned Atmar, Saleh, and the other officials
vigorously, focusing their criticisms on continued civilian
casualties, house searches, and the failure to successfully
prosecute and then incarcerate insurgents and other
criminals. The session lasted five hours with Lower House
leadership closing the hearing by inviting the security
officials to meet with the Lower House committee heads to
resolve outstanding questions.
7. (SBU) The seat vacated by DMK will remain unfilled until
the 2010 parliamentary election. Media reports noted 10 MPs
have been killed since 2005, with the 2007 Baghlan Province
suicide attack and related violence killing six and the 2008
Kabul assassination attempt on President Karzai killing one.
WOOD
SIPDIS
E.O. 12958: DECL: 07/07/2018
TAGS: PGOV AF
SUBJECT: HELMAND MP KILLED BY AN IED
Classified By: Deputy Chief of Mission Christopher Dell for reasons 1.4
(b) and (d).
1. (C) SUMMARY. On March 19 an IED explosion killed Helmand
MP Dhad Mohammad Khan (DMK) as his motorcade traveled through
Kandahar Province en route to Lashkar Gah, Helmand Province.
His killing sparked a parliamentary hearing on the Afghan
government's efforts to protect MPs and to investigate and
prosecute those responsible for these types of incidents.
Resulting from this hearing, security ministry and
parliamentary leadership will meet and devise a specific plan
to address these issues.
2. (S/NF) DMK had served as a member of the National
Assembly's Lower House since 2005. A former Helmand National
Directorate of Security (NDS) Chief, DMK was closely linked
to Helmand strongman Sher Mohammad Akhundzada (SMA) and
allegedly heavily involved in narcotics production and
smuggling. DMK did not frequent Parliament but had recently
increased his visibility in Helmand, attending high profile
public events at the invitation of Helmand Governor Mangal,
likely as part of Mangal's effort to jump-start
reconciliation efforts in the province.
3. (C) Parliament summoned NDS, Ministry of Interior,
Ministry of Defense, and Attorney General's Office leadership
to brief the Lower House on DMK's death, investigation
results from other security incidents involving MPs, and
precautions taken to ensure MPs' safety. During the March 25
hearing, Minister of Interior Atmar described the chain of
events surrounding DMK's March 19 death: DMK was traveling
in a multi-vehicle convoy through Kandahar en route to
Helmand on the morning of March 19. Two men activated a
remote control IED as DMK's car swerved off the road to avoid
a hole, killing DMK and two companions.
4. (C) A member of DMK's security detail, traveling in a
separate vehicle, shot one of the attackers. The second
attacker picked up his comrade's body and drove off on a
motorcycle. Atmar said authorities have apprehended and are
questioning an insurgent known to have placed IEDs in the
area, but have not found either of the men who activated the
remote control. (It is unknown if the attacker shot by DMK's
security detail survived). Atmar noted DMK was accompanied
by a private security detail, rather than his
government-provided security. The road where DMK died is
extremely dangerous, averaging one to two explosions per day,
including two explosions earlier in the morning of DMK's
death, Atmar added.
5. (C) NDS Chief Saleh said NDS did not have much to add to
Atmar's comprehensive summary of DMK's death and focused his
comments on the broader issue of protecting civilians, giving
a very neutral depiction of the deaths stemming from a recent
U.S. military operation in Kunduz Province. Saleh blamed
Pakistan's military and intelligence services' lack of
commitment to fighting extremism as contributing to the
violence Afghans face. Minister of Defense Wardak spoke
briefly about the signed agreement between coalition forces
and the Afghan government to coordinate to reduce civilian
casualties and emphasized his ministry's readiness to protect
MPs. The Attorney General's Office representative mentioned
his office's successful prosecution of three participants in
the April 2008 assassination attempt on President Karzai.
6. (C) MPs questioned Atmar, Saleh, and the other officials
vigorously, focusing their criticisms on continued civilian
casualties, house searches, and the failure to successfully
prosecute and then incarcerate insurgents and other
criminals. The session lasted five hours with Lower House
leadership closing the hearing by inviting the security
officials to meet with the Lower House committee heads to
resolve outstanding questions.
7. (SBU) The seat vacated by DMK will remain unfilled until
the 2010 parliamentary election. Media reports noted 10 MPs
have been killed since 2005, with the 2007 Baghlan Province
suicide attack and related violence killing six and the 2008
Kabul assassination attempt on President Karzai killing one.
WOOD