FATA AND NWFP: WEEKLY INCIDENTS OF TALIBANIZATION, DECEMBER

C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 03 PESHAWAR 000004 SIPDIS E.O. 12958: DECL: 1/5/2019 TAGS: PTER MOPS PGOV PK SUBJECT: FATA AND NWFP: WEEKLY INCIDENTS OF TALIBANIZATION, DECEMBER 19 - DECEMBER 31 CLASSIFIED BY: Michael A. Via, Acting Principal Officer, Peshawar, Department of State. REASON: 1.4 (a),(b),(d) Introduction: -------------- ¶1. (U) Fighting continued in Bajaur through the end of December, with around 15 militants reported killed. ¶2. (SBU) Pakistani security forces, backed by helicopter gunships, tanks and heavy artillery, launched an attack on December 30, targeting criminals and militants in the Jamrud area of Khyber Agency. The political agent declared the operation a success. (Septel) ¶3. (C) An apparent split in Swat between different elements of the taliban seemed to emerge over the issue of educating the over 40,000 female students there. Shah Duran, the deputy of Maulana Fazlullah's group, on December 25, reportedly warned government and private schools not to enroll girls. Militants have reportedly destroyed over 130 schools in Swat in the past 14 months. (Note. There are approximately 490 primary schools in Swat. End note.) On the other hand, over the past year, Tehrik-i-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) spokesmen have repeatedly denied that they object to girls' education, provided the education comports with Islamic values. Bajaur -------------- ¶4. (U) The following is a summary of events in Bajaur Agency, where the Pakistani military has been conducting military operations since August: December 30: Militants fired five rockets at Khar, three landing in the Civil Colony, with no casualties reported. Security forces reportedly killed two militants in a shelling counterattack. December 29: Militants burned the houses of four elders of a tribal lashkar in Mamoond tehsil. Elsewhere, security forces reportedly killed three militants after they attacked a checkpost in Zor Banda, 18 km from Khar. A mortar shell also killed three civilians. December 28: Militants burned the houses of eight tribal elders. December 26: Security forces reportedly killed four militants in Mamoond tehsil as they attacked militant hideouts throughout the area. December 23: Militants attacked several checkpoints, with an exchange of fire lasting over an hour. No casualties were reported. December 21: Fighter jets attacked suspected militant positions in Mamoond tehsil, reportedly killing four. NWFP -------------- ¶5. (U) The following incidents have occurred in the Provincially Administered Tribal Areas (PATA) and settled areas of NWFP: December 28, Buner: A suicide car bomb attack on a polling station at a government school killed at least 40. (Septel) December 28, Swat: Five more people were killed in separate incidents throughout the valley. December 28, Peshawar: At least four explosions were reported throughout the city. December 25, Peshawar: The local Christian community cancelled a Christmas day fair at St. John Vianney Catholic Church, breaking a decades-long practice, due to deteriorating law and order PESHAWAR 00000004 002 OF 003 December 24, Swat: Security forces reportedly killed 11 militants during attacks on suspected hideouts in Shakar Darra valley. Militants reportedly killed four and blew up a bridge in Khawazakhela tehsil. Elsewhere, two brothers were killed when they left their village home. Two other dead bodies were also discovered in separate villages. December 23, Dera Ismail Khan: Militants fired six rockets at various points in the city. No casualties were reported. December 23, Swat: Security forces claimed to kill seven militants in Shakar Darra, while six others were killed in other areas. December 22, Swat: Security forces reportedly killed 15 militants near Shakar Darra. Two security men were killed in the fighting. Militants also killed a person they accused of spying in Mingora. December 22, Peshawar: Militants attacked three English-medium schools in the city, set five buses on fire, and ransacked one principal's office. The three private schools are considered the leading schools in the city. December 20, Swat: The NWFP government in Peshawar declared the military operation in Swat a failure and called upon the security forces to take "effective action" against militants. Elsewhere, militants attacked a Frontier Constabulary post, injuring two, and killed a general councilor and his son, burning their house and shop. An errant mortar also killed three members of a family in Matta tehsil. FATA -------------- ¶6. (U) The following is a roundup of incidents of Talibanization in the FATA and Frontier Regions: December 30, Khyber: Pakistani security forces, backed by helicopter gunships, tanks and heavy artillery, launched an attack on criminals and militants in the Jamrud area, destroying 33 homes, arresting 159, and killing at least eight. December 26, Khyber: In separate incidents, militants kidnapped a driver returning from Afghanistan, and a local trader from his home. December 25, Hangu: Militants abducted Awami National Party (ANP) Hangu Secretary General Malik Riaz Bangash and his driver. December 24, Mohmand: Militants blew up buildings of a basic health unit and tehsil headquarters. Security forces attacked militant hideouts and destroyed nine homes. December 23, Khyber: Lashkar-i-Islam publicly executed two alleged murders in Bara. December 23, North Waziristan: Militants killed a policeman and injured three others in a rocket attack. December 21, Orakzai: Local militants announced the imposition of Shari'a law in the agency and directed residents to seek resolution of their disputes with their "local taliban centers." December 21, Khyber: Militants set another NATO oil supply tanker on fire in Landikotal. December 21, North Waziristan: Militants killed two Afghan refugees, accusing them of spying for the United States. Government Response -------------- ¶7. (U) This is a summary of government responses to "creeping Talibanization" according to press and consulate contacts: PESHAWAR 00000004 003 OF 003 December 25, Mohmand: 68 of the 70 taliban wanted by the Mohmand Agency political administration reportedly surrendered. The Frontier Corps reported that 310 taliban militants had surrendered to the political administration over the previous week. December 23, Tank: Security forces killed one militant and arrested two others at a checkpoint. 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: December 24, Mohmand: A jirga of the Burhankhel tribe produced 10 more wanted persons. VIA