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C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 03 PESHAWAR 000036 
 
SIPDIS 
 
E.O. 12958: DECL:  2/25/2019 
TAGS: PTER MOPS PGOV PK
SUBJECT: FATA AND NWFP:  WEEKLY INCIDENTS OF TALIBANIZATION, JANUARY 
30 - FEBRUARY 5 
 
REF: A. A) PESHAWAR 029 
     ¶B. B) PESHAWAR 018 
 
CLASSIFIED BY: LYNNE TRACY, PRINCIPAL OFFICER, PESHAWAR, 
DEPARTMENT OF STATE. 
REASON: 1.4 (a), (b), (d) 
Introduction 
------------ 
 
¶1. (SBU) No fighting was reported in Bajaur during the first 
week of February, but militants blew up two government schools 
in the Pashat area on February 2, following the destruction of 
schools in Bajaur on January 27-28 (Ref B).  Members of the 
Salarzai tribe vowed to continue fighting militants in the 
agency. 
 
¶2. (C) Internally displaced persons (IDPs) complained to 
government officials that food was scarce and they were forced 
to wait in line for hours to receive staple products.  According 
to the United Nations Resident Coordinator in Pakistan, the 
Pakistani government has registered over 40,000 families living 
in IDP camps.  On February 4, the NWFP government announced it 
would establish new relief camps at government schools in 
Mingora and Barikot as well as a tent village in Malakand. 
UNESCO issued an appeal to donors for $2.3 million in order to 
educate thousands of IDP children beyond grade four.  According 
to UNESCO, unless it receives donations, it will be forced to 
close the only two schools in two of the 12 IDP camps, and the 
organization will not be able to provide education to children 
in the remaining 10 IDP camps.  UNESCO officials told post that 
providing these children ages 9-17 in IDP camps a conventional 
education will help prevent militants from radicalizing them. 
 
¶3. (C) Militants continued their campaign of attacks on the NATO 
supply line during the first week of February, on February 3 
blowing up a bridge on the Pak-Afghanistan Highway, attacking 
trucks on the route, and striking at a Peshawar cargo terminal 
on February 7 (Ref A).  There were positive signs of local 
resistance to militants (Ref A).  The same day, local police and 
armed members of a local peace committee killed nine members of 
a Bara-based militant group when they allegedly attempted to 
kidnap the Nazim (mayor) of Bazidkhel Union Council. 
 
Bajaur 
------ 
 
¶4.      (U) The following is a summary of events in Bajaur Agency, 
where the Pakistani military has been conducting military 
operations since August 2008: 
 
February 1:  A local newspaper reported that IDPs from Bajaur 
complained that they have to wait at relief centers for hours to 
get food.  At Haji Camp, locals alleged that the WFP was 
inefficient at food distribution. 
 
February 3:  Militants reportedly blew up two government schools 
in the Pashat area.  Volunteers from the Salarzai tribe 
reportedly chased after the militants. 
 
NWFP 
---- 
 
¶5.      (U) The following incidents have occurred in the 
Provincially Administered Tribal Areas (PATA) and settled areas 
of NWFP: 
 
February 1, Swat:  Clashes between security forces and militants 
reportedly killed at least 60 people, including 43 civilians, 16 
militants and one soldier.  Prime Minister Gilani announced that 
the government will adopt a new strategy to avoid collateral 
damage.  A military spokesman claimed that security forces had 
taken control of different areas of the valley, including 
Charbagh. 
 
February 1, Kohat:  Militants fired two rockets; no casualties 
were reported. 
 
February 2, Swat:  Nine people were killed and 11 others injured 
during shelling and incidents of violence.  The bodies of eight 
local residents were found in different areas of the valley.  A 
 
PESHAWAR 00000036  002 OF 003 
 
 
local newspaper reported that thousands of civilians are fleeing 
from fighting. 
 
February 3, Swat:  Security forces reportedly killed over 70 
militants.  Militants reportedly broadcast warnings from their 
illegal FM radio station that all lawyers and judges that they 
would be killed if they did not quit their profession for 
belonging to an "infidel judicial system." 
 
February 3, Dera Ismail Khan:  A militant threw a hand-grenade 
into a mosque, killing one worshiper and injuring 25 others. 
 
February 4, Swat:  The medical NGO Medecins Sans Frontieres 
(MSF) suspended all activities in the valley after two of its 
staff were killed.  Militants set free 30 police and 
paramilitary personnel in the presence of journalists in Kabal 
Tehsil after receiving written promises that they would quit 
their government jobs and never fight against the taliban. 
 
February 5, Swat:  Maulvi Omar, spokesman for the 
Tehrik-i-Taliban Pakistan (TTP), threatened to intensify attacks 
on government installations and NATO supplies if military 
operations in Swat and the tribal areas were not stopped. 
Charsadda District Bar President Saadullah Khan was shot dead 
along with a nearby girl.  At least 13 policemen were injured 
when a suicide bomber rammed his explosive-laden vehicle into a 
police station in Mingora.  Militants killed three women and 
kidnapped the men in the same family, destroyed two schools in 
Matta, blew-up a constable's house, and attacked a truck 
transporting food for troops with a remote-controlled bomb, 
killing the truck driver. 
 
February 5, Upper Dir:  Militants set up a checkpoint on the 
main road through Dir and broadcast FM radio messages asking 
locals to join their "jihad." 
 
FATA 
---- 
 
¶6.      (U) The following is a roundup of incidents of 
talibanization in the FATA and Frontier Regions: 
 
February 1, Mohmand:  A bomb exploded after a security force 
convoy passed, injuring six Frontier Corps men. 
 
February 2, Darra Adam Khel:  Security forces continued search 
operations against militants in the area, arresting scores of 
suspects. 
 
February 2, Kurram:  A beheaded body was found in Lower Kurram. 
 
February 3, Khyber:  Militants blew-up a bridge on the 
Peshawar-Torkham Highway (Ref A).  Mangal Bagh's Lashkar-i-Islam 
reportedly ordered all men to grow beards and all women to wear 
a veil. 
 
February 3, Mohmand:  Security forces reported that they 
advanced into areas of the Pandyalai tehsil and demolished 
houses owned by militants, recovering arms and ammunition. 
 
February 4, Khyber:  A bomb partially damaged a bridge on the 
Peshawar-Torkham Highway.  Militants also burned ten trucks of a 
convoy returning from Afghanistan on the route after delivering 
NATO supplies. 
 
February 4, Orakzai:  Fighting between militant factions 
resulted in the death of eight militants.  Security forces 
continued artillery fire on suspected militant hideouts while 
ground forces conducted search operations.  A local newspaper 
reported that Orakzai Agency had become a new haven for taliban, 
with Sharia courts and abolishment of the traditional tribal 
jirga system. 
 
February 5, Mohmand:  Militants set off a roadside bomb near a 
military convoy, wounding seven soldiers.  Militants also blew 
up a link bridge in Tehsil Lakoro. 
 
PESHAWAR 00000036  003 OF 003 
 
 
 
February 5, Khyber:  Militants planted explosives near the outer 
wall of a girls' school. 
 
Government Response 
------------------- 
 
¶7.      (C) This is a summary of government responses to "creeping 
talibanization" according to press and consulate contacts: 
 
February 2, Bajaur:  Local newspapers gave credit to the 
Government of Pakistan for starting "Cash for Work" projects and 
providing employment to over 10,000.  (Note:  USAID/OTI 
implements this program, intended to enhance the credibility of 
the Pakistani government.  End note.) 
 
February 2, Peshawar:  Local police reported intensified 
security in the city.  The government announced 16,000 rifle 
permits would be issued to people through committees comprising 
district coordination officers (DCOs), district police officers 
(DPOs) and district nazims (mayors) to activate local bodies 
against militants. 
 
February 4, Swat:  The NWFP government announced it would 
establish new relief camps at the government schools in Mingora 
and Barikot as well as a tent village at Malakand.  Over 40,000 
families living in existing camps have been registered and may 
be shifted to the camps.  UNESCO issued an appeal to donors for 
$2.3 million in order to provide education past grade four to 
thousands of IDP children in the 12 IDP camps.  According to 
UNESCO, unless it receives donations, it will be forced to close 
the only two schools in two of the 12 IDP camps, and the 
organization will not be able to provide education to children 
in the remaining 10 IDP camps.  UNESCO officials told post that 
providing these children ages 9-17 in IDP camps a conventional 
education will help prevent militants from radicalizing them. 
 
February 4, Peshawar:  Police reportedly arrested a man who was 
carrying seven kilograms of explosive material. 
 
February 5, Peshawar:  A police bomb disposal unit reportedly 
defused three devices on the Peshawar-Bajaur Road. 
 
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: 
 
February 1, Bajaur:  Members of the Salarzai tribe volunteered 
to flush out militants by stepping up the lashkar campaign. 
 
February 2, Mohmand:  A 50-member jirga of Halimzai Tribe 
assured the government it would fulfill its territorial 
responsibility in maintaining peace in the area. 
 
February 5, Peshawar:  Local police and armed members of a local 
peace committee killed nine members of a Bara-based militant 
group when they allegedly attempted to kidnap the Nazim (mayor) 
of Bazidkhel Union Council.  Residents of Bazidhkel and adjacent 
villages set a two-week deadline for the government to take 
stern action against Lashkar Islam (LI) in Bara. 
TRACY