FATA AND NWFP: WEEKLY INCIDENTS OF TALIBANIZATION, MAY 15 -

C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 09 PESHAWAR 000111

SIPDIS

E.O. 12958: DECL: 5/25/2019
TAGS: PTER MOPS PGOV PK
SUBJECT: FATA AND NWFP: WEEKLY INCIDENTS OF TALIBANIZATION, MAY 15 -
MAY 21

REF: ISLAMABAD 1106

CLASSIFIED BY: Lynne Tracy, Principal Officer, U.S. Consulate
Peshawar, U.S. Department of State.
REASON: 1.4 (d)
Introduction

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1. (C) Pakistan's security forces appeared to seize the
initiative in Malakand during the third week of May, but
militants responded by launching mass-casualty bombing attacks
inside Peshawar for the first time since March. In Swat,
government troops encircled Mingora and appeared to achieve
dominance in Buner and Lower Dir. The security forces claimed
to have inflicted heavy casualties on the militants, while
themselves sustaining only minimal casualties. Expanding on a
trend of the previous week, incidents in Upper Dir, the Chakdara
area of Lower Dir, the Kohistani area of upper Swat, Shangla,
Mansehra, and Battagram districts appeared to be caused by
militants fleeing central and lower Swat, the primary theater of
the military's ongoing operation.




2. (SBU) A 38-year-old man displaced from Buner District of NWFP
described to a newspaper on May 17 the talibanization that he
had seen: "The Taliban are quite intelligent. They initially
presented a soft image to endear themselves to the population.
However, once they take control of the area, you get to see
their full cruelty on display." Reports of rape and forced
prostitution in Swat and Buner, commonly described as
"dishonoring our women," circulated widely among the fleeing
population.




3. (C) Militants appeared to be attempting to strike back
against the government in other areas of the NWFP, with twin
bomb attacks in Peshawar on May 16, killing 12, and a suicide
bombing in Tank on May 19, killing nine. Another major bombing
against a movie theater in Peshawar on the evening of May 22,
which killed five and injured scores, falls outside of the scope
of this cable but contributes to a disturbing trend of attacks
within the city of Peshawar.



Swat

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4. (SBU) The following is a summary of events in Swat, where a
February peace agreement broke down:



May 15: Militants killed three security force personnel.
Security forces continued to bombard militants in the Peochar
Valley and in areas around Mingora and claimed to have inflicted
heavy casualties on the militants. Reports surfaced that
Taliban were shaving off their beards to escape.



May 17: Militants fired rockets and 12-7 mm machine guns at
security forces in Peochar Valley, Maulana Fazlullah's
stronghold, killing a Pakistani army officer and injuring two
soldiers. Pakistan ground forces entered Matta and Kanju and
"intense" battles followed.



May 18: Militants killed an officer and two soldiers, and

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injured three others. Militants in Kanju also destroyed the
home of a Member of the Provincial Assembly (MPA) from the Awami
National Party (ANP),kidnapping two of his brothers, a nephew,
and two servants. Security forces bombarded militant positions
northeast of Mingora and claimed that "fifty percent of Matta
was under control." Security forces also claimed to have
captured a militant training center in the Peochar Valley.



May 19: Militants killed an army major and one soldier north of
Matta and killed one soldier in Peochar. Security forces
claimed to kill 16 militants and to encircle Mingora, cutting
off militant supply lines.



May 20: Kohistani elders failed to persuade militants to leave
Bahrain tehsil peacefully, causing a clash between the militants
and a local lashkar in Kalam Valley. The International Campaign
to Ban Landmines (ICBL) claimed that residents in Mingora had
seen Taliban laying anti-personnel mines throughout the area.



May 21: Security forces reported taking control of a key bridge
overlooking Mingora. Security forces reportedly arrested 25
local militants and 30 foreign militants, and killed four,
including a reputed Taliban commander.



Buner

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5. (SBU) The following is a summary of events in Buner District,
NWFP, a neighboring district to Swat, where the government
launched a military operation in the final week of April:



May 15: NWFP Inspector General Police Malik Naveed Khan
reported that only 58 of 600 police from Buner were working and
warned the others to return to work or face disciplinary action.



May 16: Security forces continued to battle militants in the
area of Sultanwas, a village north of Daggar, the district
headquarters.



May 17: Reporting from Buner described destruction all around
the district, including burnt vehicles, spent artillery shells
and broken electric poles all over the roads, along with home
after home damaged by bullets and artillery.



May 19: Militants killed an army officer and three soldiers in
fighting north of Daggar. Militants also injured another
officer and 16 other soldiers. Security forces reported killing
16 militants and secured part of Sultanwas.



May 20: Security forces reported that they had fully secured
Sultanwas. Militants had reportedly attempted to use six
vehicles, driven by terrorists wearing army uniforms, as suicide
bombs. The vehicles were destroyed.

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Lower Dir

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6. (SBU) The following is a summary of events in Lower Dir
District, NWFP, a neighboring district to Swat, where the
government launched a military operation during the final week
of April:



May 15: Militants killed five security personnel, while
security forces reported killing 12 militants in fighting near
Maidan, west of the Lower Dir district headquarters of
Timergara, and in the Chakdara area, near the border with lower
Swat.



May 16: Security forces bombed the house of local Union Council
Nazim (mayor) reportedly occupied by militants. Police also
report arresting four fleeing militants.



May 17: Law enforcement agencies imposed a curfew in the
Chakdara area, near the Swat border, restricting the flow of
IDPs.



May 18: Security forces raided the Timergara district
headquarters hospital an arrested two suspected militants.



May 19: Army planes reportedly dropped bombs on four civilian
homes in Adenzai, killing two and injuring two others.



May 20: Clashes continued in the Maidan area between militants
and government troops.



May 21: Militants killed two soldiers with a remote control
bomb near Hajiabad at a checkpost entering Maidan. Security
forces claimed to kill four rebels near the scene. Elsewhere,
security forces reported killing militants in Nanbati and
Kalpani.



Bajaur and Mohmand

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7. (SBU) The following is a summary of events in Bajaur and
Mohmand Agencies, where the Pakistani military has been
conducting military operations since August 2008:



May 15, Mohmand: Three people were killed in a landmine
explosion. Militants reportedly blew up a government middle
school and rural health center in Ambar tehsil, making ten

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schools blown up in the agency over the last three months.
Security forces reportedly killed a taliban commander and his
two associates in the Sheikhan area.



May 15, Bajaur: The agency continued into its sixth day without
electricity, causing banks and post offices to remain closed.
The political administration announced increased security
measures, while four civilians were injured when a mortar hit
their house 30 km from Khar.



May 16, Bajaur: A militant commander and a dozen of his
associates surrendered to the political administration.



May 16, Mohmand: A mortar struck a home, injuring a 14-year-old
girl and damaging the house.



May 17, Bajaur: Security forces began establishing checkposts
in Mamoond area, once a militant stronghold.



May 17, Mohmand: A body of a slaughtered member of the Mohmand
Rifles was recovered from Lakaro tehsil.



May 18, Mohmand: The bodies of two Frontier Corps (FC) soldiers
were found in Lakaro tehsil. The Tehrik-i-Taliban Pakistan
(TTP) spokesman stated the executions were revenge for the
killing of five Taliban prisoners in Peshawar on May 8.



May 19, Mohmand: A large number militants attacked security
forces after security forces arrested five Arabs, one Afghan,
and one local, all of whom were wearing burqas. Security forces
reported killing "at least" 13 militants in the subsequent
two-hour gun-battle.



May 20, Bajaur: Security forces arrested three foreign militant
commanders during a security check in Khar tehsil.



May 21, Mohmand: Political Agent (PA) Amjad Ali Khan announced
amnesty for all militants who would lay down their arms as
elders from the Safi tribe handed over a local militant
commander and five companions. Elsewhere, IDPs reportedly
claimed they were forcibly repatriated without any compensation
despite pledges by the government and UNHCR.



NWFP

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8. (C) The following incidents have occurred in the Northwest
Frontier Province (NWFP) according to press and consulate
contacts:



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May 15, Peshawar: Militants reportedly kidnapped an employee of
a local pharmaceutical company and beat him severely for wearing
western-style pants and shirt.



May 15, Battagram: Locals claim that over 150 militants have
begun congregating in the district, threatening residents and
local police.



May 16, Peshawar: A powerful car bomb killed 14, including two
women and two children, and injured 31, in Kashkal area.
Another low-grade device exploded in a busy market, injuring at
least six.



May 16, Dera Ismail Khan: Security forces and militants
exchanged fire after a vehicle refused to stop near a checkpost.



May 17, Kohat: Militants reportedly fired three rockets from
Dod hills, targeting the district courts, Bahadar Colony, and
the cantonment area, with no casualties reported.



May 17, Upper Dir: Militants reportedly assembled in the
Dogbala area, refusing pleas by local tribesmen to leave. Jets
bombed the site, but one shell hit two civilian homes, killing
two women. Locals say the militants arrived in five villages
eight months ago.



May 17, Dera Ismail Khan: Militants riding on a motorcycle
killed a traffic officer in the city.



May 18, Peshawar: The Tehrik-i-Taliban Pakistan (TTP)
reportedly demanded Rs 25 million in ransom for the release of
Afghanistan's Ambassador-designate to Pakistan Farahi who was
kidnapped in September 2008 while serving as Consul General in
Peshawar.



May 18, Upper Dir: Security forces in helicopter gunships
reportedly killed 15 people in am area near the border with
Swat; press reports claim that the deceased were civilians.



May 18, Shangla: Elders in the Chakesar area reported that
60-70 taliban had set up a checkpoint in the area and had not
complied with elders' attempts to persuade them to go peacefully.



May 19, Peshawar: Militants reportedly have continued
threatening city businesses to have their employees wear
shalwar-kameez (loose-fitting robe),instead of pants and
shirts. The National Jubilee Insurance (NJI) company directed
its employees to begin wearing shalwar-kameez after a medical
worker was beaten unconscious by taliban for wearing
"un-Islamic" clothes.




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May 19, Peshawar: Militants reportedly blew up a police post in
the suburbs abandoned two months ago due to a lack of personnel.
Militants also damaged a government building on Kohat Road. A
man's bullet-riddled body was also found in a graveyard outside
the city.



May 21, Peshawar: Militants in Adezai destroyed the house of a
leading member of the local lashkar and ambushed security forces
who responded; no casualties resulted.



FATA

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9. (C) The following is a roundup of incidents of talibanization
in the Federally Administered Tribal Areas (FATA) and Frontier
Regions:



May 16, Orakzai: A militant and six tribesmen were killed in a
helicopter gunship strike.



May 16, FR Kohat: Militants shot and killed a police officer,
claiming he was spying on local taliban.



May 17, Orakzai: Taliban claimed to behead a constable for
carrying out criminal activities in militant disguise.



May 18, South Waziristan: Four bullet-riddled bodies were
discovered on a remote roadside while hundreds of families
prepared to leave the area.



May 18, Orakzai: Press reported that the government began
secret negotiations through religious clerics with the deputy
chief of TTP for the repatriation of 35 Sikh families whom
militants recently evicted from the agency.



May 19, Khyber: Militants reportedly damaged two tankers
supplying NATO forces in Afghanistan on the Pak-Afghan highway
in Landi Kotal. Khasadar personnel from a nearby security post
opened fire, causing the militants to flee. Elsewhere, three
Khasadars were injured when their vehicle ran by an improvised
explosive device (IED).



May 19, South Waziristan: Residents are reportedly fleeing the
agency amid a buildup of forces by the army and the taliban.



May 19, FR Tank: A suicide bomber in a truck rammed a Frontier
Corps (FC) camp in Jandola, killing nine and injuring 25,
including 15 FC personnel. A spokesman for a Taliban group led
by Qari Zainuddin claimed that Baitullah Mehsud sent the suicide
bomber to eliminate Zainuddin and his key commanders.


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May 20, Khyber: Militants destroyed a private health clinic in
Landikotal; the owner had previously been warned by militants
not to treat female patients.



May 21, Khyber: Militants fired rockets at a security checkpost
in the Zakhakhel area; no casualties were reported.



May 21, Khyber: A jirga mediated an exchange of hostages taken
by Lashkar-i-Islam (LI) for LI hostages taken in response by
local tribesmen. LI claimed to have "arrested" the initial
hostages due to their involvement in gambling.



Government Response

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10. (SBU) This is a summary of government responses to "creeping
talibanization" according to press and consulate contacts:



May 15, Charsadda: The police claimed to arrest four suspected
militants and recover a 5 kg bomb.



May 15, Karak: The police claimed to foil an attempted bombing
at a bridge over the Indus Highway, discovering and defusing two
planted bombs.



May 16, Orakzai: Security forces reportedly killed nine
militants and injured another 13.



May 16, Mardan: Security forces and police reportedly arrested
four militants in Takht Bhai.



May 16, Khyber: The Frontier Corps and Khassadar personnel
arrested six suspects during a search operation. The six
surrendered at the last moment to save their homes from
threatened destruction.



May 17, Khyber: Security forces arrested four Khassadar
personnel in Bara on charges of providing shelter to militants.



May 17, FR Kohat: Security forces reportedly arrested 23
suspected militants.



May 18, FR Kohat: Security forces reportedly killed five
militants and arrested six others near Darra Adam Khel while
they were travelling in five vehicles toward a security forces
camp located beside the Friendship Tunnel. Elsewhere, security
forces and police reportedly besieged a mosque to arrest a

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militant commander hiding inside.



May 19, Nowshera: Police arrested a suspected Tehrik-i-Taliban
Pakistan (TTP) militant based on a tip-off at Jalozai camp and
defused three landmines and a mortar shell there.



May 20, Peshawar: Security forces arrested six suspected
militants in a local hotel near the city's main bus terminal.



May 21, Haripur: The police claimed to arrest an Afghan
national with links to the Taliban, recovering over 200 hand
grenades, a Kalashnikov rifle, a laptop, three personal
computers, CDs containing Taliban footage, passports and
identity cards.



Grass Roots Efforts to Halt Talibanization

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11. (U) The following events are examples of activities taken by
local communities to halt the spread of Talibanization:



May 15, Upper Dir: Local leaders claimed that they expelled
militants from Usherai and Doog Dara.



May 17, Islamabad: Islamic scholars meeting at a convention
presided over by Jamiat Ulema-e-Pakistan issued a fatwa stating
that Islam forbids suicide attacks; the military operation in
Swat is a war for the survival of the country; people involved
with murder and desecrating holy places had nothing to do with
Islam.



May 17, Peshawar: The Swat Qawmi Amn Jirga called on the
government and security forces to continue the operation until
the militants were eliminated.



May 19, FR Bannu: The elders of Bakakhel peace committee held a
jirga stating that there were no militants in the area, urging
no military operations, but assuring the government it would
help to enforce the writ of the government in the region.



May 19, Upper Dir: Residents of Hayagay Gharbi, a mountainous
village east of Dir, decided to raise a force of 200 volunteers
to defend their area and take action against militants trying to
enter the area.



May 20, Islamabad: About 500 ulema and mashaikh belonging to
different schools of religious thought across the country issued
statements against militants challenging the writ of the state
an denounced suicide bombings, beheadings and desecration of
sacred places.


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May 20, Upper Dir: Residents of Doog Darra burned down the
house of a man suspected of having harbored militants and of
thereby causing the Pakistani armed forces to conduct air
strikes in the area.



May 20, Mansehra: Elders in Kala Dhaka handed over to the
government a local man alleged to have harbored outside
militants in the area, two days after a government ultimatum for
the tribes in the area to hand over four locals accused of
harboring militants escaping from Swat and Buner.



May 21, Peshawar: Leading members of a local lashkar instructed
shopkeepers at a bazaar in the Adezai suburb of Peshawar to take
a unified stand against local militants, who had distributed
leaflets warning that the bazaar's shops would be destroyed if
they were not closed voluntarily.
TRACY