FATA AND NWFP: WEEKLY INCIDENTS OF TALIBANIZATION, JANUARY

C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 03 PESHAWAR 000036

SIPDIS

E.O. 12958: DECL: 2/25/2019
TAGS: PTER MOPS PGOV PK
SUBJECT: FATA AND NWFP: WEEKLY INCIDENTS OF TALIBANIZATION, JANUARY
30 - FEBRUARY 5

REF: A. A) PESHAWAR 029

B. B) PESHAWAR 018

CLASSIFIED BY: LYNNE TRACY, PRINCIPAL OFFICER, PESHAWAR,
DEPARTMENT OF STATE.
REASON: 1.4 (a),(b),(d)
Introduction
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1. (SBU) No fighting was reported in Bajaur during the first
week of February, but militants blew up two government schools
in the Pashat area on February 2, following the destruction of
schools in Bajaur on January 27-28 (Ref B). Members of the
Salarzai tribe vowed to continue fighting militants in the
agency.


2. (C) Internally displaced persons (IDPs) complained to
government officials that food was scarce and they were forced
to wait in line for hours to receive staple products. According
to the United Nations Resident Coordinator in Pakistan, the
Pakistani government has registered over 40,000 families living
in IDP camps. On February 4, the NWFP government announced it
would establish new relief camps at government schools in
Mingora and Barikot as well as a tent village in Malakand.
UNESCO issued an appeal to donors for $2.3 million in order to
educate thousands of IDP children beyond grade four. According
to UNESCO, unless it receives donations, it will be forced to
close the only two schools in two of the 12 IDP camps, and the
organization will not be able to provide education to children
in the remaining 10 IDP camps. UNESCO officials told post that
providing these children ages 9-17 in IDP camps a conventional
education will help prevent militants from radicalizing them.


3. (C) Militants continued their campaign of attacks on the NATO
supply line during the first week of February, on February 3
blowing up a bridge on the Pak-Afghanistan Highway, attacking
trucks on the route, and striking at a Peshawar cargo terminal
on February 7 (Ref A). There were positive signs of local
resistance to militants (Ref A). The same day, local police and
armed members of a local peace committee killed nine members of
a Bara-based militant group when they allegedly attempted to
kidnap the Nazim (mayor) of Bazidkhel Union Council.

Bajaur
--------------


4. (U) The following is a summary of events in Bajaur Agency,
where the Pakistani military has been conducting military
operations since August 2008:

February 1: A local newspaper reported that IDPs from Bajaur
complained that they have to wait at relief centers for hours to
get food. At Haji Camp, locals alleged that the WFP was
inefficient at food distribution.

February 3: Militants reportedly blew up two government schools
in the Pashat area. Volunteers from the Salarzai tribe
reportedly chased after the militants.

NWFP
--------------


5. (U) The following incidents have occurred in the
Provincially Administered Tribal Areas (PATA) and settled areas
of NWFP:

February 1, Swat: Clashes between security forces and militants
reportedly killed at least 60 people, including 43 civilians, 16
militants and one soldier. Prime Minister Gilani announced that
the government will adopt a new strategy to avoid collateral
damage. A military spokesman claimed that security forces had
taken control of different areas of the valley, including
Charbagh.

February 1, Kohat: Militants fired two rockets; no casualties
were reported.

February 2, Swat: Nine people were killed and 11 others injured
during shelling and incidents of violence. The bodies of eight
local residents were found in different areas of the valley. A

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local newspaper reported that thousands of civilians are fleeing
from fighting.

February 3, Swat: Security forces reportedly killed over 70
militants. Militants reportedly broadcast warnings from their
illegal FM radio station that all lawyers and judges that they
would be killed if they did not quit their profession for
belonging to an "infidel judicial system."

February 3, Dera Ismail Khan: A militant threw a hand-grenade
into a mosque, killing one worshiper and injuring 25 others.

February 4, Swat: The medical NGO Medecins Sans Frontieres
(MSF) suspended all activities in the valley after two of its
staff were killed. Militants set free 30 police and
paramilitary personnel in the presence of journalists in Kabal
Tehsil after receiving written promises that they would quit
their government jobs and never fight against the taliban.

February 5, Swat: Maulvi Omar, spokesman for the
Tehrik-i-Taliban Pakistan (TTP),threatened to intensify attacks
on government installations and NATO supplies if military
operations in Swat and the tribal areas were not stopped.
Charsadda District Bar President Saadullah Khan was shot dead
along with a nearby girl. At least 13 policemen were injured
when a suicide bomber rammed his explosive-laden vehicle into a
police station in Mingora. Militants killed three women and
kidnapped the men in the same family, destroyed two schools in
Matta, blew-up a constable's house, and attacked a truck
transporting food for troops with a remote-controlled bomb,
killing the truck driver.

February 5, Upper Dir: Militants set up a checkpoint on the
main road through Dir and broadcast FM radio messages asking
locals to join their "jihad."

FATA
--------------


6. (U) The following is a roundup of incidents of
talibanization in the FATA and Frontier Regions:

February 1, Mohmand: A bomb exploded after a security force
convoy passed, injuring six Frontier Corps men.

February 2, Darra Adam Khel: Security forces continued search
operations against militants in the area, arresting scores of
suspects.

February 2, Kurram: A beheaded body was found in Lower Kurram.

February 3, Khyber: Militants blew-up a bridge on the
Peshawar-Torkham Highway (Ref A). Mangal Bagh's Lashkar-i-Islam
reportedly ordered all men to grow beards and all women to wear
a veil.

February 3, Mohmand: Security forces reported that they
advanced into areas of the Pandyalai tehsil and demolished
houses owned by militants, recovering arms and ammunition.

February 4, Khyber: A bomb partially damaged a bridge on the
Peshawar-Torkham Highway. Militants also burned ten trucks of a
convoy returning from Afghanistan on the route after delivering
NATO supplies.

February 4, Orakzai: Fighting between militant factions
resulted in the death of eight militants. Security forces
continued artillery fire on suspected militant hideouts while
ground forces conducted search operations. A local newspaper
reported that Orakzai Agency had become a new haven for taliban,
with Sharia courts and abolishment of the traditional tribal
jirga system.

February 5, Mohmand: Militants set off a roadside bomb near a
military convoy, wounding seven soldiers. Militants also blew
up a link bridge in Tehsil Lakoro.

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February 5, Khyber: Militants planted explosives near the outer
wall of a girls' school.

Government Response
--------------


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

February 2, Bajaur: Local newspapers gave credit to the
Government of Pakistan for starting "Cash for Work" projects and
providing employment to over 10,000. (Note: USAID/OTI
implements this program, intended to enhance the credibility of
the Pakistani government. End note.)

February 2, Peshawar: Local police reported intensified
security in the city. The government announced 16,000 rifle
permits would be issued to people through committees comprising
district coordination officers (DCOs),district police officers
(DPOs) and district nazims (mayors) to activate local bodies
against militants.

February 4, Swat: The NWFP government announced it would
establish new relief camps at the government schools in Mingora
and Barikot as well as a tent village at Malakand. Over 40,000
families living in existing camps have been registered and may
be shifted to the camps. UNESCO issued an appeal to donors for
$2.3 million in order to provide education past grade four to
thousands of IDP children in the 12 IDP camps. According to
UNESCO, unless it receives donations, it will be forced to close
the only two schools in two of the 12 IDP camps, and the
organization will not be able to provide education to children
in the remaining 10 IDP camps. UNESCO officials told post that
providing these children ages 9-17 in IDP camps a conventional
education will help prevent militants from radicalizing them.

February 4, Peshawar: Police reportedly arrested a man who was
carrying seven kilograms of explosive material.

February 5, Peshawar: A police bomb disposal unit reportedly
defused three devices on the Peshawar-Bajaur Road.

Grass Roots Efforts to Halt Talibanization
--------------


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

February 1, Bajaur: Members of the Salarzai tribe volunteered
to flush out militants by stepping up the lashkar campaign.

February 2, Mohmand: A 50-member jirga of Halimzai Tribe
assured the government it would fulfill its territorial
responsibility in maintaining peace in the area.

February 5, Peshawar: Local police and armed members of a local
peace committee killed nine members of a Bara-based militant
group when they allegedly attempted to kidnap the Nazim (mayor)
of Bazidkhel Union Council. Residents of Bazidhkel and adjacent
villages set a two-week deadline for the government to take
stern action against Lashkar Islam (LI) in Bara.
TRACY