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C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 04 PESHAWAR 000005 
 
SIPDIS 
 
E.O. 12958: DECL:  1/6/2019 
TAGS: PTER MOPS PGOV PK
SUBJECT: FATA AND NWFP:  WEEKLY INCIDENTS OF TALIBANIZATION, DECEMBER 
12 - DECEMBER 18 
 
REF: ISLAMABAD 3980 
 
CLASSIFIED BY: Michael A. Via, Acting Principal Officer, 
Peshawar, Department of State. 
REASON: 1.4 (a), (b), (d) 
Introduction: 
------------- 
 
¶1. (C)  The third week of December brought more fighting in 
Bajaur.  But with fewer than ten militants reported killed, the 
tempo of fighting seems to have slowed considerably compared 
with the magnitude of fighting over the past several months. 
 
¶2.      (C)  The situation in Swat continued to deteriorate, with 
militants carrying out attacks throughout the week, "arresting" 
45 police officers, destroying the home of another Awami 
National Party (ANP) leader, burning a high school, and killing 
about fifty, including religious leader Pir Samiullah and many 
of his followers on December 14.  (Septel) 
 
¶3.      (C) The Khyber Political Agent's orders restricting 
movement of local staff who are implementing American 
development projects entered its third week.  Although projects 
in Landi Kotal are off limits to implementing partners, some 
implementing partners have started visiting projects in Jamrud 
and Bara. 
 
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 18:  Security forces reportedly killed one militant as 
they advanced their lines in Nawagai tehsil and began patrolling 
in some areas. 
 
December 18:  Frontier Corps officials reportedly informed 
President Zardari that the government would be in a position to 
exercise "complete control over Mohmand and Bajaur Agencies by 
the end of December."  Newspapers reported that President 
Zardari, NWFP Governor Owais Ghani, and Inspector General 
Frontier Corps Major General Tariq Khan told tribal elders from 
the FATA that military operations would soon end and that there 
was "no alternative but to fight the militancy," which included 
the use of air attacks. 
 
December 17:  Security forces reportedly targeted militant 
hideouts in various areas with no reports of casualties. 
 
December 15:  Security forces reportedly killed two militants 
and injured three others.  Militants have reportedly begun 
digging defensive trenches in Tanai and Omarai areas of Mamoond 
tehsil. 
 
December 13:  Security forces reportedly killed four Afghan 
militants and injured several others in Nawagai tehsil. 
Security forces also claimed to intensify their attacks in 
Mamond tehsil.  Elsewhere, security forces fired errant mortar 
shells into a residential area near Khar, reportedly killing two 
children along with nine others. 
 
December 12:  Local tribesmen reportedly killed one militant and 
injured another when the two militants tried to drive into 
Nawagai tehsil from neighboring Mohmand Agency. 
 
NWFP 
---- 
 
¶5.      (U) The following incidents have occurred in the 
Provincially Administered Tribal Areas (PATA) and settled areas 
of NWFP: 
 
December 18, Swat:  Militants reportedly attacked a security 
forces convoy in Matta, with no reports of casualties. 
Elsewhere, security forces reportedly attacked militant hideouts 
with artillery and heavy weapons. 
 
December 18, Hangu:  Militants shot four people after the body 
 
PESHAWAR 00000005  002 OF 004 
 
 
of a Frontier Corps soldier was recovered from the Shahukhel 
area.  Militants also killed a head-constable at a police 
checkpost in Shahukhel. 
 
December 18, Peshawar:  Jamaat-i-Islami (JI) staged a protest in 
Peshawar urging the government to stop supplies being 
transported to NATO forces in Afghanistan. (Reftel) 
 
December 17, Swat:  Seven people were reportedly killed in 
various areas of Swat.  Militants reportedly killed one couple 
in Kanju for having an illicit relationship. 
 
December 16, Swat:  Militants reportedly attacked the home of 
Afzal Khan Lala, a leader of the Awami National Party (ANP); 
killed a police official in Mingora; and killed Imam Masjid. 
 
December 16, Peshawar:  A rocket reportedly landed at the 
residence of a government official in the Civil Quarters section 
of the city, close to the cantonment area, where the U.S. 
Consulate is located, with no casualties reported. 
 
December 15, Swat:  Militants reportedly killed three people and 
lashed three others for selling drugs.  Elsewhere, taliban in 
Charbagh Tehsil issued "clearance certificates" to 45 policemen 
who reportedly had surrendered to the militants. 
 
December 15, Mardan:  Militants reportedly killed a police 
official and injured two others when they fired at a police 
mobile van. 
 
December 14, Swat:  Militants killed religious leader Pir 
Samiullah at his home in Gawalarai, along with twenty of his 
followers, captured 22 others, burned the homes of forty 
followers, and hanged his body in the main market.  (See Septel) 
 
 
December 14, Hangu:  Approximately 100 militants reportedly 
attacked a bazaar in Tal tehsil and burned around 20 shops, 
including music and video centers.  Reports indicate that the 
militants wreaked havoc for three hours because the police did 
not respond to the frequent calls from locals.  The militants 
reportedly fired two rockets at Tal market when they fled the 
scene. 
 
December 14, Kohat:  Militants reportedly lobbed a 6 kg 
improvised bomb into the house of the District Police Officer, 
damaging the home, but not causing casualties. 
 
December 13, Peshawar:  Militants set off four bombs, damaging a 
police post, a snooker club, and two shops.  Militants also 
fired two rockets that hit the Bajaur Press Club, damaging the 
building, but not causing casualties. 
 
December 12, Hangu:  Militants reportedly abducted a retired 
policeman. 
 
December 12, Swat:  Five people were killed when a roadside bomb 
exploded near a bridge.  One of the dead was a Pakistani 
government contractor engaged in a development project. 
Elsewhere, militants destroyed the residence and guest house of 
an Awami National Party (ANP) Member of National Assembly (MPA), 
along with a high school. 
 
December 12, Peshawar:  Militants burned twelve cargo containers 
and fired five rockets at a supply terminal on Ring Road, but 
missed the containers. 
 
December 12, Nowshera:  Militants reportedly warned members of a 
jirga that they face dire consequences if those involved in 
firing at one of their vehicles is not turned over to them 
within 72 hours. 
 
FATA 
---- 
 
¶6.      (U)  The following is a roundup of incidents of 
 
PESHAWAR 00000005  003 OF 004 
 
 
Talibanization in the FATA and Frontier Regions: 
 
December 17, South Waziristan:  Militants killed a Frontier 
Corps (FC) soldier in Wana after they kidnapped him and charged 
him with spying for the U.S. 
 
December 17, Khyber:  Militants reportedly missed their target, 
a NATO supply convoy, but their rocket hit a house in Jamrud, 
killing a woman and injuring two children. 
 
December 17, Khyber:  Armed activists of Lashkar-i-Islam (LI) 
reportedly raided several markets in Landikotal and seized 
firecrackers and declared that using firecrackers was un-Islamic. 
 
December 16, South Waziristan:  Militants released a video of 
five dead, accusing them of having spied a year ago on al Qaeda 
leader Abu Laith Al-Libi, leading to his reported death on 
January 29, 2008.  Elsewhere, militants dumped a man's 
bullet-riddled body near Wana, accusing him of spying for the 
U.S. 
 
December 16, Khyber:  Militants fired rockets at an oil tanker 
carrying fuel for NATO forces in Afghanistan, destroying the 
tanker in Landi Kotal. 
 
December 16, Mohmand:  Security forces reportedly killed seven 
militants, including a commander, after the militants attacked a 
checkpoint in Safi tehsil. 
 
December 14, South Waziristan:  Maulvi Omer, spokesman for 
Tehrik-i-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) claimed responsibility for the 
attacks on NATO supplies and said it was a reaction to U.S drone 
attacks inside Pakistani territory. 
 
December 14, Khyber:  Seven militants reportedly attacked Malik 
Shamshir Khan, a tribal elder from Koki Khel in Jamrud, while he 
was returning from a monthly jirga, killing his grandson and his 
driver, and wounding one child. 
 
December 13, North Waziristan:  Militants reportedly killed two 
native Afghans in Miramshah, accusing them of being "US Spies." 
 
December 12, Mohmand:  Security forces continued to attack 
suspected militant hideouts with artillery shells near Ghalanai. 
 
December 12, Orakzai:  Rival militant groups reportedly fought 
in Upper Orakzai, resulting in five deaths. 
 
Government Response 
------------------- 
 
¶7.      (U)  This is a summary of government responses to 
"creeping Talibanization" according to press and consulate 
contacts: 
 
December 18, Mardan:  Police reportedly recovered a huge cache 
of explosive materials and weapons in the village of Gojar Garhi. 
 
December 16, Kurram:  Political authorities reportedly secured 
the release of 84 hostages after negotiations with the Turi 
tribe.  121 men reportedly remain hostages. 
 
December 14, Peshawar:  The Frontier Corps and police deployed 
scores of soldiers to terminals and parking areas along Ring 
Road to protect NATO supplies from militant attacks. 
 
December 14, Kohat:  The Mehsud Scouts reportedly destroyed two 
militant hideouts near Spina Thana. 
 
December 13, Hangu: Police reportedly arrested a militant 
commander who had planned an attack on a police station several 
months prior. 
 
December 13, Khyber:  The Khassadar local police force 
reportedly recovered 47 Kalashnikovs from a truck at a police 
checkpost and arrested its driver. 
 
PESHAWAR 00000005  004 OF 004 
 
 
 
December 12, Darra Ishmael Khan:  Police reportedly arrested a 
suicide bomber and defused a suicide jacket at a mosque during 
prayers. 
 
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 12, North Waziristan:  Tribal elders pledged to help 
secure the release of an Assistant Political Agent (APA) who was 
kidnapped a week ago. 
VIA