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 -------------- ¶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 PESHAWAR 00000036 002 OF 003 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. PESHAWAR 00000036 003 OF 003 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