FATA AND NWFP: WEEKLY INCIDENTS OF TALIBANIZATION, MARCH 14

C O N F I D E N T I A L PESHAWAR 000065 E.O. 12958: DECL: 3/30/2019 TAGS: PTER MOPS PGOV PK SUBJECT: FATA AND NWFP: WEEKLY INCIDENTS OF TALIBANIZATION, MARCH 14 - MARCH 20 REF: A) PESHAWAR 54 B) PESHAWAR 55 C) PESHAWAR 49 CLASSIFIED BY: Michael A. Via, Acting Principal Officer, Peshawar, Department of State. REASON: 1.4 (a),(b),(d) Introduction - - - - - - - ¶1. (SBU) In accordance with the Nizam-e-Adl "system of justice," widely viewed as Shari'a law, Qazi judges began presiding over cases in Swat March 17, displacing the role of civil judges. Tehrik Nefaz-i-Shariat Muhammadi (TNSM) Chief Sufi Mohammad asked civil judges to stop coming to court on March 16; the Northwest Frontier Provincial government reportedly issued orders to civil judges on March 18 to stay home. Police returned to their stations in some areas of Swat on March 17, while some residents demanded the withdrawal of army forces from the valley. ¶2. (C) The threat environment in Peshawar remained volatile during the third week in March, with two attacks on cargo terminals on March 15 and 16, and militants armed with rocket launchers and other weapons patrolling city roads during the afternoon of March 18. Swat - - - ¶3. (SBU) The following is a summary of events in Swat, where a recent peace agreement and Qazi courts are being implemented: March 16, Mingora: Tehrik Nifaz-i-Shariat Mohammadi (TNSM) Chief Maulana Sufi Mohammad asked judicial officers to stop coming to courts and said that any further court proceedings would be in violation of the agreement signed by the government. Local reports indicate that women remain absent from the markets. March 17, Swat: Courts in the valley stopped functioning after TNSM Chief Maulana Sufi Mohammad announced that these courts were against Shari'a and their continued functioning would be a violation of the agreement signed by the provincial government. (Ref B) Two Qazis reviewed 30 cases in Mingora, but referred all the petitioners to police for mediation or investigation. One newspaper report hailed the restoration of the government's writ in some areas of Swat, describing the deployment of police in Charbagh and Khawazakhel police stations. March 18, Swat: The NWFP government reportedly directed judges of subordinate judiciary of the Peshawar High Court in Swat not to attend courts and restrict themselves to their houses due to security concerns. Bajaur and Mohmand - - - - - - - - - - 
¶4. (SBU) The following is a summary of events in Bajaur and Mohmand Agencies, where the Pakistani military has been conducting military operations since August 2008: March 16, Khar: Local press reports indicated that displaced persons had begun returning to their homes after the taliban announced a unilateral ceasefire and the Mamoond tribe and the authorities signed a peace agreement to bring law and order under control in Bajaur Agency. March 17, Ghalanai: Gunship helicopters reportedly killed four militants throughout the agency. NWFP - - - ¶5. (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 15, Lower Dir: Four United Nations officials from the World Food Program were reportedly kidnapped after distributing food and oil to students of government-run schools. March 15, Peshawar: Approximately 100 militants overpowered four guards at a terminal for trucks carrying supplies for NATO forces in Afghanistan and burned 20 trailers with military cargo. (Ref A) March 15, Dera Ismail Khan: In an apparent sectarian attack, two Sunnis were killed while coming out of a mosque. March 16, Peshawar: In the second attack in two days, approximately 60 militants broke into Al-Faisal Terminal on Ring Road and destroyed 30 vehicles. March 17, Peshawar: A beheaded body was found with a note accusing the deceased of "spying for the enemy." March 18, Mardan: Militant threats have reportedly forced hundreds of compact disc (CDs) dealers to pack up. March 18, Peshawar: Demonstrating that Peshawar's security environment remains volatile, militants armed with rocket launchers and other weapons reportedly patrolled city roads. Militants riding in a dozen double-cabin pickup trucks patrolled Ring Road and Bara Road in the middle of the afternoon. (Ref. C) March 18, Lower Dir: Militants attacked a police mobile van at the main entrance to the University of Malakand at Chakdara, killing four policemen and a University watchman. FATA - - - ¶6. (U) The following is a roundup of incidents of talibanization in the Federally Administered Tribal Areas (FATA) and Frontier Regions: March 16, FR Bannu: Missiles fired on a reputed militant hideout in Janikhel reportedly killed two militants, including a foreign fighter. Government Response - - - - - - - - - - ¶7. (SBU) This is a summary of government responses to "creeping talibanization" according to press and consulate contacts: March 16, Darra Adam Khel: Representatives of the army, political administration and government reportedly convinced the Tehrik-i-Taliban (TTP) in Darra to announce a ceasefire until March 30. March 17, Charsadda: Police claimed to arrest a would-be suicide bomber, a teacher at a madrassah, in a raid which seized explosives, a Kalashnikov, 70 cassettes and jihadi literature. 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: March 17, Lower Dir: Adenzai tribesmen blocked the Peshawar-Chitral Road to protest the growing number of kidnappings for ransom in the area. March 17, Swat: Thousands of citizens protested in Kabal tehsil for the restoration of peace through adherence to the peace deal. VIA