Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
09PESHAWAR59
2009-03-23 10:34:00
CONFIDENTIAL
Consulate Peshawar
Cable title:  

FATA AND NWFP: WEEKLY INCIDENTS OF TALIBANIZATION, MARCH 7

Tags:  PTER MOPS PGOV PK 
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O 231034Z MAR 09
FM AMCONSUL PESHAWAR
TO SECSTATE WASHDC IMMEDIATE 7888
INFO AMEMBASSY ISLAMABAD IMMEDIATE 
AMEMBASSY KABUL IMMEDIATE 
AMEMBASSY LONDON IMMEDIATE 
AMCONSUL LAHORE IMMEDIATE 
AMCONSUL KARACHI IMMEDIATE 
CIA WASHINGTON DC
DIA WASHINGTON DC
FBI WASHINGTON DC
JOINT STAFF WASHINGTON DC
NSC WASHINGTON DC
SECDEF WASHINGTON DC
USCENTCOM INTEL CEN MACDILL AFB FL
USSOCOM INTEL OPS CEN MACDILL AFB FL
CDR USSOCOM MACDILL AFB FL
AMCONSUL PESHAWAR
C O N F I D E N T I A L PESHAWAR 000059 


E.O. 12958: DECL: 3/23/2019
TAGS: PTER MOPS PGOV PK
SUBJECT: FATA AND NWFP: WEEKLY INCIDENTS OF TALIBANIZATION, MARCH 7
MARCH 13

REF: A) PESHAWAR 52 B) ISLAMABAD 50 C) PESHAWAR 49

CLASSIFIED BY: Michael A. Via, Acting Principal Officer,
Peshawar, Department of State.
REASON: 1.4 (a),(b),(d)


Introduction
- - - - - - -

C O N F I D E N T I A L PESHAWAR 000059


E.O. 12958: DECL: 3/23/2019
TAGS: PTER MOPS PGOV PK
SUBJECT: FATA AND NWFP: WEEKLY INCIDENTS OF TALIBANIZATION, MARCH 7
MARCH 13

REF: A) PESHAWAR 52 B) ISLAMABAD 50 C) PESHAWAR 49

CLASSIFIED BY: Michael A. Via, Acting Principal Officer,
Peshawar, Department of State.
REASON: 1.4 (a),(b),(d)


Introduction
- - - - - - -


1. (C) The release of 12 militant prisoners March 7, the
appointment of Qazi judges in Swat March 12 and the
repositioning of army forces were some of the first tangible
steps taken by the government to implement the peace agreement
and the Nizam-e-Adl "system of justice" widely viewed as Shari'a
law. Tehrik Nefaz-i-Shariat Muhammadi (TNSM) Chief Sufi
Mohammad lead a military convoy to police lines demonstrating
his status and power in Swat. Most local observers do not
expect the peace agreement in Swat to last long. The second
failed attack on the Northwest Frontier Province Senior Minister
March 7, continued fighting between militants and government
forces, abductions, rocket attacks, Vehicle Born Improvised
Explosive Devices (VBIED) and the recent bombings of CD shops
and other businesses, demonstrate that the insurgency continues
unabated in the Northwest Frontier Province (NWFP) and Federally
Administered Tribal Areas (FATA).

Swat
- -


2. (C) The following is a summary of events in Swat, where a
recent peace agreement and Qazi courts are being implemented:

March 7, Mingora: 12 militants were released to by Northwest
Frontier Province NWFP authorities to a Tehrik Nifaz-i-Shariat
Mohammadi (TNSM) delegation as a confidence building measure.

March 7, Ghalanai: Three Khasadar personnel and five miitants
were killed when militants ambushed a vehicle transporting
security forces.

March 7, Timergara (Swat): A local Jirga (committee) held a
rally and threatened to set up their own Shari'a courts if the
President did not sign the proposed Nazam-i-Adl (Shari'a)
regulations.

March 8: The Takhtaband road was opened to traffic after two
months with Tehrik Nefaz-i-Shariat Muhammadi (TNSM) Chief Sufi
Mohammad leading a military convoy to police lines in Mingora.
(Note: The Takhtaband road is the main road leading north out of
Mingora. End note.)

March 9, Swat: The militants agreed to remove all check posts in
Swat following talks with the NWFP government.

March 12, Mingora: The government has appointed and installed
seven Qazi judges as part of the Nizam-e-Adl regulation and
peace deal they are expected to begin to function March 13.
(Ref. A).

Bajaur
- - - -


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

March 10, Khar: The Mamoond tribe and the authorities have
signed a peace agreement to bring law and order under control in
Bajaur Agency.

March 12, Ghallanai: Militants told local Khassadars (tribal
security forces) to quit their jobs or "face the consequences."

March 12, Ghallanai: Jet fighters and helicopter gunships
attacked suspected militant positions along the border with
Mohmand agency destroying houses including that of a "taliban"
spokesman.

NWFP
- - -


3. (C) The following incidents have occurred in the Provincially
Administered Tribal Areas (PATA) and settled areas of the
Northwest Frontier Province (NWFP) according to press and
consulate contacts:

March 7, Peshawar: A suicide bomber killed at least seven
security personnel and two others on the outskirts of
Peshawar. The explosion temporarily disrupted electrical power
to several villages in the area closest to the blast.

March 7, Peshawar: militants killed at least 14 security
forces personnel. Some were taken captive the same day on the
border between Mohmand and Peshawar. (Note. Mohmand is the
agency northwest of Peshawar, Ref C.)

March 8, Kohat: Two civilians were killed and 14 others
including six soldiers were injured in a roadside blast.

March 9, Kohat: At least one person was killed and four other
injured by a rocket attack in Darra Adamkhel.

March 9, Kohat: Six rockets were fired by suspected militants
against the Kotal check post. There were no reports of injuries.

March 9, Kohat: Six rockets were fired by suspected militants
against the Kotal check post. There were no reports of injuries.

March 11, Peshawar: A suicide bomber attempt on the life of
NWFP Chief Minister Bashir Bilour left four people dead but the
minister unhurt (Ref. B).

March 11, Peshawar: A militant threat by Mangal Bagh was alleged
to be behind the abstention from voting of a local Senator. The
senator denied the linkage.

March 11, Matani: Seven rockets landed in the vicinity of
Matani. One house was hit by a single rocket while the other
six landed in a field.

March 12, Kohat: 6 persons including a boy were injured when
suspected militants opened fire on their car.

March 12, Kohat: A bomb exploded in the Amanullah market but no
casualties were reported.

March 12, D.I. Khan: A police man was killed and a doctor was
kidnapped by suspected militants. The police man had
apprehended a suspected suicide bomber recently.

March 12, F.R. Kohat: At least 35 militants were killed and
several others, including three soldiers were injured in an
operation launched in Frontier Region Kohat.

March 12, Nowshera: Suspected militants blew up CD centers,
internet Cafes and other shops with no casualties reported.

March 13, Hangu: Suspected militants killed one and injured five
others while they were traveling by bus near Bahadur Banda.

FATA
- - -


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

March 8, Mohmand: The bodies of 14 Khasadar men (tribal militia)
were found after their convoy was ambushed earlier in the day.

March 9, South Waziristan: Militants shot dead three men in
South Waziristan after filming them confessing to spying for the
United States. (Note: Normally notes are left with the victims.
End note).

March 13, Landi Kotal: A suicide bomber rammed an explosive
laden car (VBIED) into the boundary wall of the Frontier
Constabulary Fort at Char Bagh injuring one soldier.

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


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

March 9, Peshawar: Additional contingents of security personnel
including some in plains cloths were deployed in the city to
prevent militant attacks.

March 11, Peshawar: Security forces personnel distributed relief
goods among the residents of Mulla Gori.

March 12, Chitral: The police will raise an elite force to
combat acts of terrorism according to the district police chief.
102 junior officers and constables are to be sent for training.

March 12, Hangu: 45 suspected militants were arrested, charged
with murder and having links to the Taliban.

March 12, Peshawar: A Member of the provincial assembly
threatened a fellow minister with "calling the taliban" if the
illegal postings and transfers of primary teachers did not end
in his constituency.


VIA