Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
09PESHAWAR168
2009-08-13 08:49:00
CONFIDENTIAL
Consulate Peshawar
Cable title:  

FATA AND NWFP: WEEKLY INCIDENTS OF TALIBANIZATION, JULY 24

Tags:  PTER MOPS ASEC PK 
pdf how-to read a cable
VZCZCXRO1225
OO RUEHLH RUEHPW
DE RUEHPW #0168/01 2250849
ZNY CCCCC ZZH
O 130849Z AUG 09
FM AMCONSUL PESHAWAR
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC IMMEDIATE 8152
INFO RUEHIL/AMEMBASSY ISLAMABAD IMMEDIATE 4926
RUEHLH/AMCONSUL LAHORE IMMEDIATE 2011
RUEHKP/AMCONSUL KARACHI IMMEDIATE 2019
RUEHBUL/AMEMBASSY KABUL IMMEDIATE 1647
RUEHNE/AMEMBASSY NEW DELHI IMMEDIATE 1272
RUEHBY/AMEMBASSY CANBERRA IMMEDIATE 0852
RUEHTC/AMEMBASSY THE HAGUE IMMEDIATE 0901
RUEHNO/USMISSION USNATO IMMEDIATE 0852
RUEHLO/AMEMBASSY LONDON IMMEDIATE 1038
RUEHOT/AMEMBASSY OTTAWA IMMEDIATE 0946
RUEAIIA/CIA WASHDC
RHEHAAA/NSC WASHINGTON DC
RUEKJCS/SECDEF WASHINGTON DC
RHMFISS/JOINT STAFF WASHINGTON DC
RHMFISS/CDR USCENTCOM MACDILL AFB FL
RHMFISS/CDR USSOCOM MACDILL AFB FL
RUEHPW/AMCONSUL PESHAWAR 5221
C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 06 PESHAWAR 000168 

SIPDIS

E.O. 12958: DECL: 8/13/2019
TAGS: PTER MOPS ASEC PK
SUBJECT: FATA AND NWFP: WEEKLY INCIDENTS OF TALIBANIZATION, JULY 24
- JULY 30

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

C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 06 PESHAWAR 000168

SIPDIS

E.O. 12958: DECL: 8/13/2019
TAGS: PTER MOPS ASEC PK
SUBJECT: FATA AND NWFP: WEEKLY INCIDENTS OF TALIBANIZATION, JULY 24
- JULY 30

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


1. (C) Over this reporting period, fighting in the on-going
Pakistani military operation in Swat continued at levels similar
to those of the previous week, with a few notable events. The
militants decapitated a policeman in Mingora and left his body
to be found as a sign that the militants were still operating in
the area. They also attacked telephone infrastructure and
killed a prominent local anti-militant leader in Shangla.
However, the security forces continued to report success as
search operations produced arrests and dead militants. This
success brought with it a few more militant surrenders, both in
Swat and other areas of the FATA and NWFP.


2. (C) Maulana Sufi Mohammad, the leader of the now-defunct
Tehrik-i-Nifaz-i-Shariat-i-Mohammadi, was arrested along with
his two sons by Peshawar police. A Joint Investigative Team
verified the evidence against him, and they were transferred to
the Swat Police for prosecution. The lack of public outcry at
the arrest provides a further hint of the change in public
opinion in the Malakand division toward militants and those
perceived as aiding them.


3. (C) Members of the Frontier Corps were decapitated by
militants in Mohmand and Khyber agencies. These acts, along
with the aforementioned decapitation of the police officer in
Swat, are intended as intimidation tactics against local
security forces. These tactics do not seem to have worked
recently; the renewed clashes in Upper Dir signal the
reappearance of that district's lashkar (with Pakistani
government assistance) and the Pakistani government-assisted
standup of a lashkar in Sultanwas has been deployed by the
government to substantial effect in the press.


4. (C) In South Waziristan, the Pakistani military took
virtually no military action against Baitullah Mehsud.
Unsubstantiated press reporting suggests the military has
delayed the long-promised operation against Baitullah due to
on-going "secret negotiations." In North Waziristan, by
contrast, several clashes occurred between the military and

elements of Hafiz Gul Bahadur's militia. The security forces
began a campaign to clear Shah Hassankhel village, a militant
stronghold in traditionally quiet Lakki Marwat district. In
Kohat, an unusually wide-ranging, multi-day search operation
netted well over 100 suspected militants.


NWFP - Malakand Division
- - - - - - - - - - - - -


5. (SBU) The following incidents have occurred in the Malakand
Division of the Northwest Frontier Province (NWFP),where the
Pakistani government has been conducting combat operations since
the last week of April. Malakand Division includes the
districts of Malakand, Lower Dir, Upper Dir, Chitral, Swat,
Shangla, and Buner.

24 July - Swat: Security forces announced they had killed 2
militants and arrested 4 during search operations in Torshe Khan
Sar. Forces also destroyed a militant training camp there.
During search operations in Bararai near Khawzakhela and in
Qambar, security forces arrested 21 suspects. Security forces
conducted search operations in Akhun Kalle, killing one militant
and arresting one militant. One militant was also killed and
one arrested during search operations in Utror near Kalam.

24 July - Lower Dir: Security forces claimed to kill 16
militants in Maidan.

24 July - Buner: The elders in Kitiari transferred two
suspected militants to security forces. During search
operations in Koto Banda, security forces killed nine militants.
Forces also killed one militant in Zohaib. During a raid on
suspected militant commander Islam Shah's home in Chinglai,
security forces killed one of his sons and arrested two more and

PESHAWAR 00000168 002 OF 006


a neighbor.

25 July - Swat: Security forces killed Qambar militant
Commander Maaz. In Darmai near Fatehpur, security forces
arrested an imam for supporting militant activity. Security
forces destroyed one tunnel in Piochar, two tunnels in Wakilabad
near Khawazakhela, four tunnels in Manda Jungle near Waliabad,
arrested 6 suspected militants in Ghariabad near Charbagh, and
arrested 3 suspected militants in Pia village near Madyan.

25 July - Lower Dir: Security forces defused five IEDs in
Khanai and Lalqila. Pakistani security forces claimed to kill
13 militants in air strikes.

25 July - Burner: At Dewana Baba and Kalpanai, security forces
demolished three militant hideouts.

26 July - Swat: During search operations in Pashmal near Kalam,
security forces arrested wanted Sattal militant commander Kabir.
Two militants surrendered to security forces in Fizaghat.
Security forces killed one militant, arrested two suspected
militants, and demolished seven militant hideouts in Langar near
Khawzakhela. In Chur Banda, forces arrested four suspected
militants. Security forces displayed six teenaged would-be
suicide bombers arrested in previous operations to the media.

26 July - Upper Dir: Security forces arrested six suspects in
Awishah, while local lashkars killed a total of ten militants
and arrested six in Karodara, Shakoh, and Chopra Kandao.

27 July - Swat: During search operations in Karorai Kandao,
Gidar Sar Banda, and Tarogai near Shangla, security forces
arrested local militant Commander Liaqat. Security forces
killed two militants and arrested one in the Malukabad area.
Security forces rendered safe four IEDs in a house in Dangram.
Security forces discovered three bullet-riddled bodies in
Mingora, apparent revenge killings of suspected militants.

27 July - Upper Dir: The local lashkar killed 10 militants and
apprehended six other suspected militants in Karodara, Shakoh,
and Chopra Kandao areas. Seven Safi group militants surrendered
to security forces. Militants beheaded a member of the Upper
Dir lashkar.

28 July - Swat: Unnamed locals found the decapitated body and
head of a Pakistani police constable four kilometers east of
Mingora. Local Police said this is a sign that the Taliban have
not left the area. During search operations in Tal near Shah
Dheri, security forces arrested two militants and demolished 10
militant homes. Two security force personnel were wounded in
the operation. The Bahrain local jirga transferred one militant
to security forces. In Amankot, Ahingro Deri, Minar Qambar and
Landikas, security forces killed four militants and arrested
three. Security forces arrested nine militants in Sangota near
Mingora and one militant surrendered at Sakhra near Matta.

28 July - Buner: Security forces arrested six suspected
militants in Dheri Village near Dewana Baba and demolished eight
militant houses.

28 July - Shangla: Militants destroyed a telephone exchange in
the Puran area of Shangla.

29 July - Swat: Local militant commander Bakht Jehan
surrendered to security forces in Charbagh. Security forces
arrested 4 militants in Qadar Kandao. Militants attacked the
home of tehsil Nazim Muhammad Ali at Choga near Aloch, where the
Nazim's brother was killed, and the Nazim's nephew and a
neighbor were wounded. In Kuza Banda, security forces arrested
11 suspected militants.

29 July - Buner: The qaumi lashkar in Sultanwas village was
reactivated with the support of the political administration to
provide local security.

29 July - Shangla: A large number of militants attacked the

PESHAWAR 00000168 003 OF 006


home of Khalilur Rehman and killed him. Rehman was trying to
organize a lashkar to fight against militants, who have
established checkposts along roads in the Puran tehsil.
Security forces claimed to have killed two militants in
retaliation.

30 July - Swat: Security forces arrested one in Khog Bacha.
One militant commander surrendered in Shalpalam and three others
surrendered in Jheel near BB Ziarat. Security forces conducted
search operations in Charbagh and Allahbad killing six militants.

30 July - Buner: The Sultanwas lashkar demolished five houses
belonging to alleged militants in the Dokada area.


NWFP - Hazara Division
- - - - - - - - - - - -


6. (SBU) The following incidents have occurred in the Hazara
Division of the Northwest Frontier Province (NWFP) according to
press and consulate contacts. Hazara Division includes the
districts of Abbottabad, Battagram, Haripur, Kohistan and
Mansehra.

27 July - Mansehra: A timer-initiated IED destroyed a CD
shop/internet cafe in Oghi, killing one and wounding two
bystanders.


NWFP - Mardan Division
- - - - - - - - - - - -


7. (SBU) The following incidents have occurred in the Mardan
Division of the Northwest Frontier Province (NWFP) according to
press and consulate contacts. Mardan Division includes the
districts of Mardan and Swabi.

24 July - Mardan: Sixty militants killed the watchman of a
market in Bakhshali and then demolished three CD shops and
damaged several neighboring shops.


NWFP - Peshawar Division
- - - - - - - - - - - -


8. (SBU) The following incidents have occurred in the Peshawar
Division of the Northwest Frontier Province (NWFP) according to
press and consulate contacts. Peshawar Division includes the
districts of Peshawar, Nowshera, and Charsadda.

24 July - Charsadda: Unknown gunmen shot and killed Wazir
Mohammad, a leader in the Ambar lashkar in Mohmand, at Shabqadar
bus station

25 July - Peshawar: Rizwam Ullah, son of TNSM leader Sufi
Mohammad, claimed his father was living freely in Peshawar.
Peshawar Electric Supply Company (PESCO) claimed that militants
had blown up a key transmission line tower, adding to power
outages through much of the NWFP.

26 July - Peshawar: Police arrested TNSM leader Sufi Mohammad
at a house in Sethi tehsil, along with two of Sufi's sons.

27 July - Peshawar: Kidnapped on Monday from Peshtakhara, the
bullet-riddled body of a government secretariat employee was
found in Janay Garhi with a letter stating that those that
indulge in "un-Islamic" activities would face the same fate.

27 July - Charsadda: Security forces arrested three militants
in Shakoor area.

28 July - Peshawar: Unidentified gunmen wounded three policemen
in an attack on a routine police patrol in the Fazal Haq Garhi
suburbs. The police arrested one of the attackers.

28 July - Charsadda: Security forces arrested two militants,

PESHAWAR 00000168 004 OF 006


both Afghani nationals, in the Rajjar area for their
participation in attacks in Upper Dir. A security forces raid
in the Sarki area led to the arrest of militants.

29 July - Peshawar: Police claimed to have arrested six and
confiscated a suicide jacket and other explosives in a security
raid within the city of Peshawar.

29 July - Charsadda: Unknown militants opened fire on security
forces in Shabqadar, killing three civilians and wounding four
others.


NWFP - Kohat Division
- - - - - - - - - - -


9. (SBU) The following incidents have occurred in the Kohat
Division of the Northwest Frontier Province (NWFP) according to
press and consulate contacts. Kohat Division includes the
districts of Kohat, Karak, and Hangu.

25 July - Kohat: A remote-controlled IED on the Indus highway
at Guddi Banda wounded seven policemen, one civilian, and
damaged three government vehicles when it exploded while the
police were attempting to defuse it. Police arrested 34
suspected militants and found an arms cache in southern Kohat.

26 July - Kohat: Security forces arrested 45 suspected
militants, 20 of them from the banned Jaish-e-Muhammad and
Sipah-e-Sahaba groups.

27 July - Kohat: Security forces arrested 14 suspected
militants during clearing operations in Mir Ahmed Khel,
Muhammadzai, Bazid Khel, and Guddi Banda.

28 July - Kohat: Security forces arrested dozens of people from
Sheikhan and Bilitang villages for their suspected links to TTP.


28 July - Karak: Police claim to have arrested the man
responsible for killing a policeman on July 23 with an IED
disguised as a tape recorder.




NWFP - Bannu Division
- - - - - - - - - - -


10. (SBU) The following incidents have occurred in the Bannu
Division of the Northwest Frontier Province (NWFP) according to
press and consulate contacts. Bannu Division includes the
districts of Bannu and Lakki Marwat.

25 July - Lakki Marwat: An IED disguised as a bicycle wounded
13 people including five policemen in Lakki Adda.

27 July - Lakki Marwat: Security forces in one haul in Shah
Hassankhel near Lakki Marwat arrested 16 militants, defused five
IEDs, and recovered a cache of mortars, rockets, and artillery
rounds. Security forces conducted search operations after
artillery strikes on militant positions in Ahmadkhel and
Dilokhel. Security forces further demolished suspected militant
positions in the Shah Hassankhel area.

28 July - Lakki Marwat: Security forces in Shah Hassankhel
arrested several militants and recovered a large cache of arms
that included several suicide vests.


NWFP - Dera Ismail Khan Division
- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -


11. (SBU) The following incidents have occurred in the Dera
Ismail Khan Division of the Northwest Frontier Province (NWFP)
according to press and consulate contacts. Dera Ismail Khan

PESHAWAR 00000168 005 OF 006


Division includes the districts of D.I. Khan and Tank.

29 July - Dera Ismail Khan: A remote-controlled IED planted at
the district court parking lot killed one and wounded five.

Northern FATA
- - - - - - -


12. (SBU) The following is a roundup of incidents of
talibanization and government and community response in the
Bajaur, Mohmand, and Khyber Agencies of the Federally
Administered Tribal Areas (FATA).

24 July - Bajaur: Security forces fired mortars at militant
positions in Charmang, Nawagai tehsil; they claimed to kill two
militants and wound four others.

25 July - Bajaur: An IED in Sarkari Qila killed two soldiers.
Security forces killed three militants, wounded two others, and
demolished three militants' houses in Nawagai. Militants
attacked the Maattak security forces checkpoint in Charmang; the
police responded killing two militants.

25 July - Khyber: Security forces rescued two hostages and
arrested three kidnappers in Milot Village.

26 July - Bajaur: Security forces killed six militants in
mortar and artillery strikes in Babara, Manogai, Chinar, Kohi,
Mattak, and the Karkanai areas of the Charmang Valley. An IED
killed two soldiers near Sarkari Qila.

26 July - Mohmand: Seven militants surrendered to the political
administration. Militant fired mortars killed four civilians in
the Dawezai area.

27 July - Bajaur: One person was killed and another wounded by
an IED that exploded in a mosque in Zerai village in the Mamond
area.

27 July - Mohmand: Eight militants surrendered to the political
administration in Lakaro.

27 July - Khyber: News reports state that Pakistani helicopter
gunship strikes on Lashkar-i-Islam positions (including a
mosque) in Bara tehsil killed a child and wounded three other
people. The military claimed to have killed 20 militants and
destroyed four militant positions.

28 July - Mohmand: The decapitated bodies of two Frontier
Corpsmen were found buried in a cemetery in Ambar tehsil. The
two were kidnapped by militants in May from a checkpoint in the
Spenkai Tangai area of Khwezai tehsil. Security forces arrested
nine suspected militants and demolished 12 militant houses in
Haleemzai tehsil. Suspected militant commander Umar Said
surrendered to the political administration of Asi Kot Qandharo.


28 July - Khyber: The decapitated body of a Frontier Corps
soldier was found in Bara tehsil. He was kidnapped from the Sur
Ghar Malakdinkhel area.

29 July - Mohmand: Militants fired upon a pickup truck carrying
khassadars on the Peshawar-Bajaur Road near Malook Korona,
killing two and wounding six others. Nine militants surrendered
to the political administration in Safi tehsil.

29 July - Khyber: An IED attack on a Frontier Corps security
escort vehicle traveling on the Peshawar-Torkham Road caused no
casualties; however, response fire by the FC left two khassadars
and one civilian wounded in the Sadukhel area. Authorities
arrested 25 people from the area and demolished several houses
in retaliation for the initial attack.

30 July - Bajaur: Security forces demolished the house of a
militant in Yousafabad. The militant and three others were
killed last week by security forces.

PESHAWAR 00000168 006 OF 006



30 July - Khyber: A mortar killed four people when it struck a
house in Akkakhel, Bara tehsil. Following a session of
Lashkar-i-Islam's Sharia court, four alleged kidnappers were
executed by a LI firing squad in Qambarkhel, Bara tehsil.


Southern FATA
- - - - - - -


13. (SBU) The following is a roundup of incidents of
talibanization and government and community response in the
Orakzai, Kurram, and North and South Waziristan Agencies of the
Federally Administered Tribal Areas (FATA) and Frontier Regions
south of the Khyber Agency:

25 July - North Waziristan: One woman was killed and three
other civilians were wounded by fire from helicopter gunships in
Miranshah. Security forces recovered the headless body of an
Afghani national in Nozak village with a note in Pashto that
identified the deceased as a US spy.

25 July - FR Kohat: Pakistani helicopter gunships conducted
strikes against militant positions in the mountains near the Sra
Mela area of Bosti Khel. No casualties were reported.

26 July - North Waziristan: Security forces discovered three
unidentified bullet-riddled bodies dumped on the side of the
Mirali-Miranshah Road. Six IEDs were discovered planted
separately along the Mirali-Miranshah Road.

26 July - FR Bannu: Militants stopped and kidnapped two
Frontier Constabulary personnel near the Lwar bridge. An IED at
the Lwar Bridge wounded five Frontier Constabulary personnel as
their van passed while they were in pursuit of the kidnappers

27 July - North Waziristan: Security force helicopter gunship
strikes wounded five militants in an attack on a Gul Bahadar
group commander's residence near Miram Shah.

27 July - FR Kohat: Security forces arrested seven militants in
the Manda Khel area of Darra Adam Khel.

28 July - North Waziristan: A suicide VBIED attack on the
Ghulam Khan checkpoint killed one security official and wounded
five others.

29 July - North Waziristan: Security forces killed three
militants during an exchange of fire in the Dosali area, four
soldiers were also wounded. Militants attacked security forces
at the Girdi Rogha Fort on the Esha-Razmak Road and kidnapped 10
Frontier Corps soldiers.

30 July - North Waziristan: Militants ambushed a Frontier Corps
convoy on the Miram Shah-Dattakhel Road, killing one soldier.
Two militants were killed and seven injured during the exchange
of fire.

30 July - South Waziristan: A roadside bomb apparently
targeting an Ahmedzai Wazir malik exploded with no casualties in
the Gangikhel area.

Government and Community Response
- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -


14. (SBU) This is a summary of government and community
activities undertaken outside of the NWFP and FATA to halt the
spread of talibanization within those regions:

25 July - Attock: Police arrested Shah Abdul Aziz, a former
National Assembly member aligned with the JUI-F from Karak
district; they accused him of involvement in more than 15
suicide attacks, several assassinations, and the kidnapping of a
Polish engineer (later killed and decapitated by the militants).
TRACY