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INFO RUEHIL/AMEMBASSY ISLAMABAD IMMEDIATE 4909
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RHMFISS/CDR USSOCOM MACDILL AFB FL
RUEHPW/AMCONSUL PESHAWAR 5201

C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 06 PESHAWAR 000157 
 
SIPDIS 
 
E.O. 12958: DECL:  8/3/2019 
TAGS: PTER MOPS ASEC PK
SUBJECT: FATA AND NWFP:  WEEKLY INCIDENTS OF TALIBANIZATION, JULY 17 
- JULY 23 
 
REF: ISLAMABAD 1385 
 
CLASSIFIED BY: Lynne Tracy, Principal Officer, U.S. Consulate 
Peshawar, Department of State. 
REASON: 1.4 (d) 
Introduction 
- - - - - - - 
 
¶1. (C) Over this reporting period, fighting in the on-going 
Pakistani military operation in Swat continued at levels similar 
to those of the previous week.  Revenge killings against 
militants, the first of which occurred during the previous 
reporting period, became a definite trend, with four further 
incidents in various areas of Swat.  Reported fighting in the 
adjoining district of Buner decreased, but the Frontier Corps 
undertook a major operation in the recently quiescent Maidan 
area of Lower Dir, claiming to kill around 100 militants. 
 
¶2. (C) Violence in Khyber Agency increased slightly as clashes 
between Lashkar-i-Islam (LI) and Ansarul Islam (AI) culminated 
in the LI take-over of the strategic Ghalum Ali Bunker.  Two 
separate attacks in Khyber agency against a convoy of tankers 
carrying fuel for NATO forces in Afghanistan (after another 
attack in the previous reporting period) may signal a more 
general return to such assaults, which had been in abeyance for 
several months.  In Bajaur, security force pressure on the 
militants remained high in the Charmang Valley, although 
security force artillery strikes were limited.  Also on a 
positive note, at least two local lashkars transferred militant 
detainees to the political administrations of Bajaur.  Fighting 
in Mohmand decreased, but the Ambar lashkar continued to be 
involved. 
 
¶3. (C) In South Waziristan, where the Pakistani government 
continues to prepare for ground operations against Baitullah 
Mehsud, reported incidents of fighting between militants and 
security forces was down sharply from the previous period.  A 
jirga composed of elders from all three Mehsud sub-tribes 
publically distanced itself from militants.  Within the group of 
pro-government Mehsud militants formerly led by the deceased 
Qari Zainuddin (reftel), there is an apparent leadership 
struggle between Zainuddin's brother Misbahuddin and Ikhlas Khan 
Mehsud, another militant. 
 
 
 
NWFP - Malakand Division 
- - - - - - - - - - - - - 
 
¶4. (SBU) The following incidents have occurred in the Malakand 
Division of the Northwest Frontier Province (NWFP), where the 
Pakistani government has been conducting combat operations since 
the last week of April.  Malakand Division includes the 
districts of Malakand, Lower Dir, Upper Dir, Chitral, Swat, 
Shangla, and Buner. 
 
17 July - Swat:  Security forces killed two militants in 
Chamtalai, including a suspected commander, during search 
operations.  In Matta tehsil, militants beheaded a policeman in 
his home.  In Kanju Township, security forces killed one 
militant and arrested four others.  Security force arrested 
fifteen militants and demolished twelve bunkers during search 
operations in Titlawala, near Charbagh.  A local lashkar killed 
two militants in Lal Qila.  A road-side IED killed two soldiers 
in near Serai.  The body of an alleged militant commander was 
found in a Mingora market in an apparent revenge killing. 
 
17 July - Lower Dir:  Security forces arrested two militants in 
Kumbar Bazar near Kalpani. 
 
17 July - Buner:  Search operations in Bajkata near Daggar 
resulted in the demolition of seven militant houses and the 
arrest of ten militants. 
 
18 July - Swat:  Security forces demolished four militant houses 
in Goal village near Sakhra.  Two militant training camps were 
destroyed, along with the house of commander Ismail in Chaprai 
Banda.  Security forces killed three militants and arrested one 
other during an exchange of fire in Mauja Kandao. 
 
 
PESHAWAR 00000157  002 OF 006 
 
 
19 July - Swat:  Two wanted militants, Fazal-e-Haq and Khair ul 
Ghafoor, were arrested in Talgai near Maydan.  Search operations 
in Matta produced one Jeep VBIED, two IEDs and a suicide vest. 
The police killed one militant in Sambat Cham area of Matta 
tehsil, demolished seven militant homes, in response to the 
militants beheading a policeman.    In search operations in Gul 
Shah, Tatal, and Mria Mai, two militant commanders, Taj and 
Zulqarnin, were killed.  Militant commander Hamood was arrested 
in Dardial.  One soldier and 12 militants were killed in an 
exchange of fire in Kamyrai near Dardial.  The body of ex-TNSM 
linked religious scholar, Maulana Fazle Haq, was discovered in 
Bilogram. 
 
20 July - Swat:  Security forces rescued Dr. Shamsher Khan, 
brother of MPA M Ali, who was taken hostage for ransom by 
militants two months ago.  While searching Damgarh and Mamderai, 
security forces killed five militants trying to escape wearing 
burqas, three soldiers died in the engagement.  A cave was 
discovered in Kalagai Banda with ten dead militants inside and 
separately, two militant facilitators were arrested also in 
Kalagai Banda.  One militant was killed in search operations in 
Ganjir near Topsin.  Two bullet-riddled bodies of ex-TNSM 
members were found in the village of Manyar. 
 
20 July - Lower Dir:  Security forces claimed to kill 
approximately 100 militants in operations near Maidan on July 
19-20.  Three security force members also died in the 
engagements.  The NWFP government announced rewards for 
information leading to the capture of five local militant 
leaders in the Maidan area. 
 
20 July - Chitral:  An Afghan national was killed and his 
colleague kidnapped near Jashtangarh by unknown assailants as 
the two were traveling from Drosh to Arandu.  The deceased, who 
had managed 10 cargo trucks, was known in the area for 
transporting goods for NATO forces in Afghanistan. 
 
21 July - Swat:  Security forces killed two militants during 
search operations in Malukabad.  Six militants were killed and 
four arrested in Ningulai.  One house was destroyed and five 
militants arrested in Kalagai Banda.  Security forces killed 
seven militants, which included two local commanders, in Damghar 
and Mamdherai areas of Kabal.  Three other militants were killed 
by security forces in the Shahdherai area of Kabal. 
 
21 July - Lower Dir:  During search operations in Tsapparai 
Kandao, security forces killed sixteen militants and destroyed 
three markets that were being used as militant training centers. 
 
21 July - Buner:  Militants wounded two soldiers in an exchange 
of fire in Dewana Baba.  Security forces killed three militants 
in the altercation.  In a separate incident, five civilians were 
wounded in government artillery bombardment of suspected 
militant positions in the Matwanai area. 
 
22 July - Swat:  Two militants were killed and three arrested 
during search operations in Dadrah.  Security forces demolished 
11 houses in Samai Kalle.  The body of a militant commander was 
left in Saidu Sharif, in another apparent revenge killing. 
 
22 July - Lower Dir:  Security forces claimed to kill 16 
militants and destroy three training centers around Saparay 
Kandao. 
 
23 July - Swat:  Security forces killed two militants during 
search operations in Surgulai and Syed Piranda Baba Ziarat.  One 
militant was killed in search operations in Sambat near 
Khawzakhela.  Security forces arrested four militants in search 
operations in Kannaro near Gulijabba. 
 
23 July - Malakand:  One militant was killed, one arrested and 
one soldier killed in an engagement in Allah Dand near Thana. 
 
NWFP - Hazara Division 
- - - - - - - - - - - - 
 
 
PESHAWAR 00000157  003 OF 006 
 
 
¶5. (SBU) The following incidents have occurred in the Hazara 
Division of the Northwest Frontier Province (NWFP) according to 
press and consulate contacts.  Hazara Division includes the 
districts of Abbottabad, Battagram, Haripur, Kohistan and 
Mansehra. 
 
22 July - Mansehra:  A jirga in Kala Dhaka handed over to the 
government an alleged aide to militant leader Momin Khan. 
 
NWFP - Mardan Division 
- - - - - - - - - - - - 
 
¶6. (SBU) The following incidents have occurred in the Mardan 
Division of the Northwest Frontier Province (NWFP) according to 
press and consulate contacts.  Mardan Division includes the 
districts of Mardan and Swabi. 
 
21 July - Mardan:  Twelve militants assaulted a veterinarian, 
destroyed his laboratory equipment, and damaged his office in 
the Lund Khwar area of Takhbhai tehsil.  The veterinarian 
claimed that the assailants wanted to take control of the 
government quarters. 
 
NWFP - Peshawar Division 
- - - - - - - - - - - - 
 
¶7. (SBU) The following incidents have occurred in the Peshawar 
Division of the Northwest Frontier Province (NWFP) according to 
press and consulate contacts.  Peshawar Division includes the 
districts of Peshawar, Nowshera, and Charsadda. 
 
18 July - Peshawar:  Security forces destroyed a Lashkar-i-Islam 
(LI) operating base in the Achini Mera area, wounding five 
militants, arresting nine, and one dying of health complications 
during the engagement. 
 
22 July - Peshawar:  Police claimed to have defused two rockets 
aimed at Peshawar Airport. 
 
NWFP - Kohat Division 
- - - - - - - - - - - 
 
¶8. (SBU) The following incidents have occurred in the Kohat 
Division of the Northwest Frontier Province (NWFP) according to 
press and consulate contacts.  Kohat Division includes the 
districts of Kohat, Karak, and Hangu. 
 
17 July - Hangu:  Security forces arrested 13 militants in 
search operations. 
 
19 July - Hangu:  Security forces netted 41 more militants 
during search operations in various areas including Karbogha, 
Muhammad Khwaja, Doaba, Thal, Babutang, Sangerha, Lakhti Banda, 
Barh Abbaskhel, Gulshanabad and Kach Banda. 
 
19 July - Kohat:  Security forces arrested 13 militants during 
search operations in the city and suburbs. 
 
21 July - Hangu:  Suspected militants hijacked a fuel tanker 
traveling from Peshawar to Thall. 
 
21 July - Karak:  The brother of the NWFP Minister of Prisons 
was attacked while traveling in Tarakai Banda, but survived the 
attempt on his life. 
 
22 July - Hangu:  A remote-controlled IED exploded on Shahu Road 
causing no casualties.  Another IED placed under a bridge on the 
Hangu-Orakzai Road killed a child. 
 
23 July - Karak:  A bomb disguised as a tape-recorder "gift" 
killed Head Police Constable Samiullah and wounded another 
policeman at the Changhoz Latamber checkpoint. 
 
NWFP - Bannu Division 
- - - - - - - - - - - 
 
 
PESHAWAR 00000157  004 OF 006 
 
 
¶9. (SBU) The following incidents have occurred in the Bannu 
Division of the Northwest Frontier Province (NWFP) according to 
press and consulate contacts.  Bannu Division includes the 
districts of Bannu and Lakki Marwat. 
 
17 July - Bannu:  An IED injured three soldiers near Jani Khel 
Fort. 
 
20 July - Bannu:  A remote-controlled IED killed a Frontier 
Constabulary officer and wounded six others.  Search operations 
conducted in response to the explosion netted 14 suspects. 
 
23 July - Bannu:  Unknown assailants shot and wounded a 
policeman as he rode his motorbike to work in the Topi area. 
 
NWFP - Dera Ismail Khan Division 
- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - 
 
¶10. (SBU) The following incidents have occurred in the Dera 
Ismail Khan Division of the Northwest Frontier Province (NWFP) 
according to press and consulate contacts.  Dera Ismail Khan 
Division includes the districts of D.I. Khan and Tank. 
 
17 July - Dera Ismail Khan:  Unknown gunmen killed a policeman 
who had recently arrested a prominent local member of 
Lashkar-i-Jhangvi. 
 
18 July - Tank:  The political administration arrested 15 Mehsud 
tribesmen under Section 40 of the Frontier Crimes Regulations. 
The arrested included tribal elder Dilbar Khan.  These arrests 
are considered an extension of the earlier targeted arrests of 
members of the Shabi Khels, the sub-tribe to which Baitullah 
Mehsud belongs. 
 
19 July - Dera Ismail Khan:  Two people were injured when 
unknown attackers threw a hand grenade at the truck-maker area 
of the Grass Market. 
 
22 July - Dera Ismail Khan:  Police arrested Asad Sheikh, 
brother of local militant leader Karamad Sheikh, in a search 
operation in Kulachi tehsil. 
 
Northern FATA 
- - - - - - - 
 
¶11. (C) The following is a roundup of incidents of 
talibanization and government and community response in the 
Bajaur, Mohmand, and Khyber Agencies of the Federally 
Administered Tribal Areas (FATA). 
 
17 July - Khyber:  Two separate IEDs targeted fuel tankers in 
Landi Kotal and Jamrud.  Militants in Khugakhel looted and 
burned an internet cafi. 
 
18 July - Bajaur:  Three militants were killed and two arrested 
during search operations in the Charmang area. 
 
19 July - Bajaur:  Presumed militants kidnapped an official 
coordinating development work on behalf of the government of 
Pakistan. 
 
19 July - Khyber:  A suicide bomber killed five and wounded 
eight in an attack on the Torkham security checkpoint. 
 
20 July - Bajaur:  Five militants were arrested as they 
attempted to enter Khar.  Security forces conducted artillery 
strikes near Charmang, destroying several militant positions. 
Elders of the Kamangara tribes transferred three militants to 
the political administration and assured their continued support 
of government efforts. 
 
20 July - Mohmand:  Two lashkar men were killed by friendly fire 
in Ambar tehsil. 
 
20 July - Khyber:  Militants attacked a police van in Bara 
tehsil, killing four police.  Separately, police registered 
 
PESHAWAR 00000157  005 OF 006 
 
 
cases against Mangal Bagh, the Lashkar-i-Islam leader, and seven 
of his sub-commanders. 
 
21 July - Khyber:  Sixteen people died during clashes between 
rival groups, Lashkar-i-Islam and Ansarul Islam, over the 
occupation of the Ghulam Ali Bunker in the Tirah Valley. 
Security Forces arrested two alleged TTP commanders in Loy 
Shelman, Ghunda Khel, who were involved in the supply of weapons 
to militants in Orakzai and Mohmand. 
 
22 July - Bajaur:  A jirga of the Alizai tribe transferred six 
wanted militant commanders to the political administration. 
Security forces arrested two militants and demolished several 
militant positions in the Charmang area. 
 
22 July - Mohmand:  Twelve Haleemzai tribesmen were arrested 
after the tribe refused to surrender the men to the security 
forces. 
 
22 July - Khyber:  LI took control of the Ghulam Ali Bunker 
after a long firefight. 
 
23 July - Bajaur:  Search operations netted 28 alleged 
militants, including two commanders, in the Charmang Valley. 
Separately, presumed militants assassinated a tribal malik in 
Chengazo area, killing a companion as well. 
 
23 July - Mohmand:  The Ambar tehsil lashkar turned over five 
militants to the political authorities. 
 
23 July - Khyber:  The Frontier Corps recovered five hostages 
held in a militant-run jail in Akakhel Sheikhan. 
 
Southern FATA 
- - - - - - - 
 
¶12. (SBU) The following is a roundup of incidents of 
talibanization and government and community response in the 
Orakzai, Kurram, and North and South Waziristan Agencies of the 
Federally Administered Tribal Areas (FATA) and Frontier Regions 
south of the Khyber Agency: 
 
17 July - FR Lakki Marwat:  The Assistant Political Agent issued 
an ultimatum to the Shadi Khel clan of the Bhittani tribe to 
stop the entry of militants from FR Bannu and FR Tank into their 
area. 
 
17 July - FR Tank:  Five civilians were injured in a militant 
raid on a village near Jandola.  In a separate incident, 
militants fired rockets at Jandola fort, injuring one soldier. 
 
18 July - North Waziristan:  Presumed militants left the body of 
a man they claimed was a U.S. spy in Razmak bazaar. 
 
18 July - Orakzai:  Pakistan Air Force bombed suspected TTP 
positions, claiming that twelve militants were killed and two 
training camps were destroyed. 
 
18 July - FR Kohat:  A pamphlet distributed around Darra Adam 
Khel warned Afghanistan President Karzai and Afghan refugees in 
Pakistan to stop supporting US-led allied forces of risk 
exemplary punishment for their complicity, including a series of 
suicide bombings.  Pakistani security forces conducted a 
cordon-and-search operation in Akhorwal, arresting several 
militants. 
 
19 July - FR Kohat:  Ten militants were arrested in the Sheraki 
area of Darra Adam Khel. 
 
21 July - South Waziristan:  A Jirga of elders of the Balolzai, 
Menzai, and Shamenkhel, all three Mehsud sub-tribes, declared 
that they have no allegiance to the militants and will not 
support any such group or individual.  The elders further called 
on the government to end the harassment of Mehsud tribesmen 
displaced to other agencies due to military operations. 
 
 
PESHAWAR 00000157  006 OF 006 
 
 
22 July - North Waziristan:  Militants looted 800,000 Rupees 
from a small group of Khasadars.  During the engagement, two 
Khasadars were wounded.  Militants fired two mortars at a 
military camp killing one soldier and critically wounding five 
others. 
 
22 July - South Waziristan:  The Pakistani military claimed to 
kill six militants in aerial bombardment of two suspected TTP 
positions. 
 
22 July - FR Tank:  Four bullet-riddled bodies of Mehsud 
tribesmen were discovered near Pather village. 
 
23 July - FR Kohat:  Security forces arrested four militants in 
Darra Adam Khel who had a prepared VBIED in their possession. 
TRACY