VZCZCXRO0423
PP RUEHLH RUEHPW
DE RUEHPW #0141/01 0831032
ZNY CCCCC ZZH
P 241032Z MAR 06
FM AMCONSUL PESHAWAR
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC PRIORITY 6575
INFO RUEAIIA/CIA WASHINGTON DC
RUEHKA/AMEMBASSY DHAKA PRIORITY 0184
RHEFDIA/DIA WASHINGTON DC
RUEHIL/AMEMBASSY ISLAMABAD PRIORITY 2003
RUEHJI/AMCONSUL JEDDAH PRIORITY 0100
RUEHBUL/AMEMBASSY KABUL PRIORITY 0401
RUEHKP/AMCONSUL KARACHI PRIORITY 0875
RUEHKT/AMEMBASSY KATHMANDU PRIORITY 0091
RUEHLH/AMCONSUL LAHORE PRIORITY 0890
RUEHNE/AMEMBASSY NEW DELHI PRIORITY 0279
RUEHPW/AMCONSUL PESHAWAR 2155

C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 02 PESHAWAR 000141 
 
SIPDIS 
 
SIPDIS 
 
E.O. 12958: DECL:  3/24/2016 
TAGS: PGOV PREL KISL PTER KDEM PK
SUBJECT: NWFP PML-Q CHIEF PROPOSES A STRATEGY FOR WAZIRSTAN 
 
REF: A) PESHAWAR 99; B) PESHAWAR 122 
 
CLASSIFIED BY: Gautam Rana, Political Officer, U.S. Consulate , 
Department of State. 
REASON: 1.4 (b), (d) 
 
 
 
(C) 1. Summary.  Amir Muqam, the PML-Q's party chief in the 
Northwest Frontier Province (NWFP), told us the GOP strategy in 
Waziristan is fragmented and badly requires new leadership to 
reinvigorate policy.  He suggested a three-step approach to 
address the problem: 1) a strong new governor with overarching 
authority over the Army in the Federally Administered Tribal 
Areas (FATA); 2) the development of a comprehensive, coherent 
economic and political approach; and 3) a "back to the Raj" 
strategy of strengthening the Political Agents (PAs).  Muqam 
contended the MMA is playing a double game by offering to 
negotiate on behalf of the Waziristan militants with the GOP 
while quietly encouraging extremist elements. End summary. 
 
-------------------------------------------- 
New Approach Needed in the FATA 
-------------------------------------------- 
 
(C) 2. Muqam, the Federal State Minister for Water and 
Electricity, criticized the current GOP FATA strategy as 
fragmented, saying there was an  urgent need for new leadership 
to reinvigorate policy.  The PML-Q chief proposed a three-step 
solution: 
 
-- replacing current Governor Khalilur Rehman with a strong new 
leader; 
-- developing a comprehensive, coherent economic and political 
plan; 
-- fielding stronger Political Agents. 
 
(C) 3. Muqam explained that FATA reform has to include political 
and economic elements.  He approved of Minister of Industries 
Jehangir Tareen Khan's new economic initiative, but insisted 
political change must accompany economic proposals. Most 
important is the need for a strong new governor with overarching 
authority over the Army.  "Command should be under one person," 
asserted Muqam.  He also recommended a stronger FATA Advisor (he 
suggested former Chief Secretary Sahibzada Imtiaz) to strengthen 
the governor's overall political control of the region. Muqam 
insisted the new governor must be Pashtun and a "political 
figure" -- not someone with a military background.  He offered 
no new names for governor, but rejected as inappropriate all the 
favorites rumored to replace Governor Rehman (Ref A). 
 
(C) 4. Muqam rejected the need for rapid political reform in the 
FATA, instead advocating for stronger PAs.  He argued the old 
British system was still effective and the best way to govern 
the FATA.  Weak Political Agents undermined the system, allowing 
the militants to flourish.  He acknowledged that provincial 
assembly representation and political party activity are 
possible -- but not in the near term, given the region's social 
instability and lack of political experience.  Replying to a 
question, he conceded that unofficial, informal party contacts 
in the FATA should be permitted as long as they are not publicly 
announced.  Muqam also did not favor non-govermental 
organization (NGO) activity in the FATA at this time, chiefly 
because of a potential clash between the tribals' conservative, 
traditional value system and the secular or non-Islamist values 
of many NGO's. 
 
--------------------------------- 
The MMA's Double Game 
--------------------------------- 
 
(C) 5. Muqam criticized the MMA for playing a double game, 
offering to negotiate on behalf of the Waziristan militants with 
the GOP, while quietly encouraging the extremists (Ref B).  He 
noted that NWFP Chief Minister Akram Khan Durrani recently 
offered "displaced people" from North Wazirstan land in Bannu 
and Tank regions.  Muqam felt this offer encouraged the 
extremist militants (he referred to them as "Pakistani Taliban") 
to move into the settled areas. 
 
(C) 6. The PML-Q chief supported military force against the 
extremists but only under the sponsorship of political civil 
authorities who can hold out a meaningful prospect for 
cooperation with tribals -- rather than alienating them, as he 
 
PESHAWAR 00000141  002 OF 002 
 
 
feels the Army tends to do -- and extend a real chance for 
redress, if problems emerge. 
 
------------ 
Comment 
------------ 
 
(C) 7. Muqam did not appear to be angling for Governor Rehman's 
job.  He claimed he was not "fit" and strongly preferred to 
retain his elected position rather than move to an appointive 
position.  Unfortunately, he could not identify any candidate to 
replace Rehman, although it is an open secret that Rehman is not 
proving to be decisive or dynamic enough for the job  (Ref  A). 
 
(C) 8. Two main camps have recently emerged on the issue of 
Waziristan policy. One goes "back to the past," opting for a 
stronger governor and PAs that can bind together President 
Musharraf's three pronged strategy -- military force, economic 
development, and political initiatives -- into one coherent 
approach. The other camp moves "forward to the future," arguing 
the PA system can neither be resuscitated in light of its past 
corrupt and inefficient practices nor the Army side-lined since 
it is the most powerful actor able to address growing extremist 
problems in Waziristan.  Muqam belongs in the "back to the past" 
camp because he believes all current actors lack legitimacy in 
the eyes of the tribals to determine social justice or equity. 
Accordingly, he opts for a strong governor and a new FATA 
advisor who would put much more effective Political Agents into 
Waziristan. Strong civil authority is key, in Muqam's mind, to 
regulate military force; manage economic initiatives; serve as a 
credible arbiter, when necessary; and thereby win the hearts and 
minds of the local population. End comment. 
SPANGLER