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RUEHPW/AMCONSUL PESHAWAR 5221

C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 06 PESHAWAR 000168 
 
SIPDIS 
 
E.O. 12958: DECL:  8/13/2019 
TAGS: PTER MOPS ASEC PK
SUBJECT: FATA AND NWFP:  WEEKLY INCIDENTS OF TALIBANIZATION, JULY 24 
- JULY 30 
 
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, with a few notable events.  The 
militants decapitated a policeman in Mingora and left his body 
to be found as a sign that the militants were still operating in 
the area.  They also attacked telephone infrastructure and 
killed a prominent local anti-militant leader in Shangla. 
However, the security forces continued to report success as 
search operations produced arrests and dead militants.  This 
success brought with it a few more militant surrenders, both in 
Swat and other areas of the FATA and NWFP. 
 
¶2.  (C) Maulana Sufi Mohammad, the leader of the now-defunct 
Tehrik-i-Nifaz-i-Shariat-i-Mohammadi, was arrested along with 
his two sons by Peshawar police.  A Joint Investigative Team 
verified the evidence against him, and they were transferred to 
the Swat Police for prosecution.  The lack of public outcry at 
the arrest provides a further hint of the change in public 
opinion in the Malakand division toward militants and those 
perceived as aiding them. 
 
¶3.  (C) Members of the Frontier Corps were decapitated by 
militants in Mohmand and Khyber agencies.  These acts, along 
with the aforementioned decapitation of the police officer in 
Swat, are intended as intimidation tactics against local 
security forces.  These tactics do not seem to have worked 
recently; the renewed clashes in Upper Dir signal the 
reappearance of that district's lashkar (with Pakistani 
government assistance) and the Pakistani government-assisted 
standup of a lashkar in Sultanwas has been deployed by the 
government to substantial effect in the press. 
 
¶4.  (C) In South Waziristan, the Pakistani military took 
virtually no military action against Baitullah Mehsud. 
Unsubstantiated press reporting suggests the military has 
delayed the long-promised operation against Baitullah due to 
on-going "secret negotiations."  In North Waziristan, by 
contrast, several clashes occurred between the military and 
elements of Hafiz Gul Bahadur's militia.  The security forces 
began a campaign to clear Shah Hassankhel village, a militant 
stronghold in traditionally quiet Lakki Marwat district.  In 
Kohat, an unusually wide-ranging, multi-day search operation 
netted well over 100 suspected militants. 
 
 
NWFP - Malakand Division 
- - - - - - - - - - - - - 
 
¶5.  (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. 
 
24 July - Swat:  Security forces announced they had killed 2 
militants and arrested 4 during search operations in Torshe Khan 
Sar.  Forces also destroyed a militant training camp there. 
During search operations in Bararai near Khawzakhela and in 
Qambar, security forces arrested 21 suspects.  Security forces 
conducted search operations in Akhun Kalle, killing one militant 
and arresting one militant.  One militant was also killed and 
one arrested during search operations in Utror near Kalam. 
 
24 July - Lower Dir:  Security forces claimed to kill 16 
militants in Maidan. 
 
24 July - Buner:  The elders in Kitiari transferred two 
suspected militants to security forces.  During search 
operations in Koto Banda, security forces killed nine militants. 
 Forces also killed one militant in Zohaib.  During a raid on 
suspected militant commander Islam Shah's home in Chinglai, 
security forces killed one of his sons and arrested two more and 
 
PESHAWAR 00000168  002 OF 006 
 
 
a neighbor. 
 
25 July - Swat:  Security forces killed Qambar militant 
Commander Maaz.  In Darmai near Fatehpur, security forces 
arrested an imam for supporting militant activity.  Security 
forces destroyed one tunnel in Piochar, two tunnels in Wakilabad 
near Khawazakhela, four tunnels in Manda Jungle near Waliabad, 
arrested 6 suspected militants in Ghariabad near Charbagh, and 
arrested 3 suspected militants in Pia village near Madyan. 
 
25 July - Lower Dir:  Security forces defused five IEDs in 
Khanai and Lalqila.  Pakistani security forces claimed to kill 
13 militants in air strikes. 
 
25 July - Burner:  At Dewana Baba and Kalpanai, security forces 
demolished three militant hideouts. 
 
26 July - Swat:  During search operations in Pashmal near Kalam, 
security forces arrested wanted Sattal militant commander Kabir. 
 Two militants surrendered to security forces in Fizaghat. 
Security forces killed one militant, arrested two suspected 
militants, and demolished seven militant hideouts in Langar near 
Khawzakhela.  In Chur Banda, forces arrested four suspected 
militants.  Security forces displayed six teenaged would-be 
suicide bombers arrested in previous operations to the media. 
 
26 July - Upper Dir:  Security forces arrested six suspects in 
Awishah, while local lashkars killed a total of ten militants 
and arrested six in Karodara, Shakoh, and Chopra Kandao. 
 
27 July - Swat:  During search operations in Karorai Kandao, 
Gidar Sar Banda, and Tarogai near Shangla, security forces 
arrested local militant Commander Liaqat.  Security forces 
killed two militants and arrested one in the Malukabad area. 
Security forces rendered safe four IEDs in a house in Dangram. 
Security forces discovered three bullet-riddled bodies in 
Mingora, apparent revenge killings of suspected militants. 
 
27 July - Upper Dir:  The local lashkar killed 10 militants and 
apprehended six other suspected militants in Karodara, Shakoh, 
and Chopra Kandao areas.  Seven Safi group militants surrendered 
to security forces.  Militants beheaded a member of the Upper 
Dir lashkar. 
 
28 July - Swat:  Unnamed locals found the decapitated body and 
head of a Pakistani police constable four kilometers east of 
Mingora.  Local Police said this is a sign that the Taliban have 
not left the area.  During search operations in Tal near Shah 
Dheri, security forces arrested two militants and demolished 10 
militant homes.  Two security force personnel were wounded in 
the operation.  The Bahrain local jirga transferred one militant 
to security forces.  In Amankot, Ahingro Deri, Minar Qambar and 
Landikas, security forces killed four militants and arrested 
three.  Security forces arrested nine militants in Sangota near 
Mingora and one militant surrendered at Sakhra near Matta. 
 
28 July - Buner:  Security forces arrested six suspected 
militants in Dheri Village near Dewana Baba and demolished eight 
militant houses. 
 
28 July - Shangla: Militants destroyed a telephone exchange in 
the Puran area of Shangla. 
 
29 July - Swat:  Local militant commander Bakht Jehan 
surrendered to security forces in Charbagh.  Security forces 
arrested 4 militants in Qadar Kandao.  Militants attacked the 
home of tehsil Nazim Muhammad Ali at Choga near Aloch, where the 
Nazim's brother was killed, and the Nazim's nephew and a 
neighbor were wounded.  In Kuza Banda, security forces arrested 
11 suspected militants. 
 
29 July - Buner:  The qaumi lashkar in Sultanwas village was 
reactivated with the support of the political administration to 
provide local security. 
 
29 July - Shangla:  A large number of militants attacked the 
 
PESHAWAR 00000168  003 OF 006 
 
 
home of Khalilur Rehman and killed him.  Rehman was trying to 
organize a lashkar to fight against militants, who have 
established checkposts along roads in the Puran tehsil. 
Security forces claimed to have killed two militants in 
retaliation. 
 
30 July - Swat:  Security forces arrested one in Khog Bacha. 
One militant commander surrendered in Shalpalam and three others 
surrendered in Jheel near BB Ziarat.  Security forces conducted 
search operations in Charbagh and Allahbad killing six militants. 
 
30 July - Buner:  The Sultanwas lashkar demolished five houses 
belonging to alleged militants in the Dokada area. 
 
 
NWFP - Hazara Division 
- - - - - - - - - - - - 
 
¶6.  (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. 
 
27 July - Mansehra:  A timer-initiated IED destroyed a CD 
shop/internet cafe in Oghi, killing one and wounding two 
bystanders. 
 
 
NWFP - Mardan Division 
- - - - - - - - - - - - 
 
¶7.  (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. 
 
24 July - Mardan:  Sixty militants killed the watchman of a 
market in Bakhshali and then demolished three CD shops and 
damaged several neighboring shops. 
 
 
NWFP - Peshawar Division 
- - - - - - - - - - - - 
 
¶8.  (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. 
 
24 July - Charsadda:  Unknown gunmen shot and killed Wazir 
Mohammad, a leader in the Ambar lashkar in Mohmand, at Shabqadar 
bus station 
 
25 July - Peshawar:  Rizwam Ullah, son of TNSM leader Sufi 
Mohammad, claimed his father was living freely in Peshawar. 
Peshawar Electric Supply Company (PESCO) claimed that militants 
had blown up a key transmission line tower, adding to power 
outages through much of the NWFP. 
 
26 July - Peshawar:  Police arrested TNSM leader Sufi Mohammad 
at a house in Sethi tehsil, along with two of Sufi's sons. 
 
27 July - Peshawar:  Kidnapped on Monday from Peshtakhara, the 
bullet-riddled body of a government secretariat employee was 
found in Janay Garhi with a letter stating that those that 
indulge in "un-Islamic" activities would face the same fate. 
 
27 July - Charsadda:  Security forces arrested three militants 
in Shakoor area. 
 
28 July - Peshawar:  Unidentified gunmen wounded three policemen 
in an attack on a routine police patrol in the Fazal Haq Garhi 
suburbs.  The police arrested one of the attackers. 
 
28 July - Charsadda:  Security forces arrested two militants, 
 
PESHAWAR 00000168  004 OF 006 
 
 
both Afghani nationals, in the Rajjar area for their 
participation in attacks in Upper Dir.  A security forces raid 
in the Sarki area led to the arrest of militants. 
 
29 July - Peshawar:  Police claimed to have arrested six and 
confiscated a suicide jacket and other explosives in a security 
raid within the city of Peshawar. 
 
29 July - Charsadda:  Unknown militants opened fire on security 
forces in Shabqadar, killing three civilians and wounding four 
others. 
 
 
NWFP - Kohat Division 
- - - - - - - - - - - 
 
¶9.  (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. 
 
25 July - Kohat:  A remote-controlled IED on the Indus highway 
at Guddi Banda wounded seven policemen, one civilian, and 
damaged three government vehicles when it exploded while the 
police were attempting to defuse it.  Police arrested 34 
suspected militants and found an arms cache in southern Kohat. 
 
26 July - Kohat:  Security forces arrested 45 suspected 
militants, 20 of them from the banned Jaish-e-Muhammad and 
Sipah-e-Sahaba groups. 
 
27 July - Kohat:  Security forces arrested 14 suspected 
militants during clearing operations in Mir Ahmed Khel, 
Muhammadzai, Bazid Khel, and Guddi Banda. 
 
28 July - Kohat:  Security forces arrested dozens of people from 
Sheikhan and Bilitang villages for their suspected links to TTP. 
 
 
28 July - Karak:  Police claim to have arrested the man 
responsible for killing a policeman on July 23 with an IED 
disguised as a tape recorder. 
 
 
 
 
NWFP - Bannu Division 
- - - - - - - - - - - 
 
¶10. (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. 
 
25 July - Lakki Marwat:  An IED disguised as a bicycle wounded 
13 people including five policemen in Lakki Adda. 
 
27 July - Lakki Marwat: Security forces in one haul in Shah 
Hassankhel near Lakki Marwat arrested 16 militants, defused five 
IEDs, and recovered a cache of mortars, rockets, and artillery 
rounds.  Security forces conducted search operations after 
artillery strikes on militant positions in Ahmadkhel and 
Dilokhel.  Security forces further demolished suspected militant 
positions in the Shah Hassankhel area. 
 
28 July - Lakki Marwat:  Security forces in Shah Hassankhel 
arrested several militants and recovered a large cache of arms 
that included several suicide vests. 
 
 
NWFP - Dera Ismail Khan Division 
- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - 
 
¶11. (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 
 
PESHAWAR 00000168  005 OF 006 
 
 
Division includes the districts of D.I. Khan and Tank. 
 
29 July - Dera Ismail Khan:  A remote-controlled IED planted at 
the district court parking lot killed one and wounded five. 
 
Northern FATA 
- - - - - - - 
 
¶12. (SBU) 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). 
 
24 July - Bajaur:  Security forces fired mortars at militant 
positions in Charmang, Nawagai tehsil; they claimed to kill two 
militants and wound four others. 
 
25 July - Bajaur:  An IED in Sarkari Qila killed two soldiers. 
Security forces killed three militants, wounded two others, and 
demolished three militants' houses in Nawagai.  Militants 
attacked the Maattak security forces checkpoint in Charmang; the 
police responded killing two militants. 
 
25 July - Khyber:  Security forces rescued two hostages and 
arrested three kidnappers in Milot Village. 
 
26 July - Bajaur:  Security forces killed six militants in 
mortar and artillery strikes in Babara, Manogai, Chinar, Kohi, 
Mattak, and the Karkanai areas of the Charmang Valley.  An IED 
killed two soldiers near Sarkari Qila. 
 
26 July - Mohmand:  Seven militants surrendered to the political 
administration.  Militant fired mortars killed four civilians in 
the Dawezai area. 
 
27 July - Bajaur:  One person was killed and another wounded by 
an IED that exploded in a mosque in Zerai village in the Mamond 
area. 
 
27 July - Mohmand:  Eight militants surrendered to the political 
administration in Lakaro. 
 
27 July - Khyber:  News reports state that Pakistani helicopter 
gunship strikes on Lashkar-i-Islam positions (including a 
mosque) in Bara tehsil killed a child and wounded three other 
people.  The military claimed to have killed 20 militants and 
destroyed four militant positions. 
 
28 July - Mohmand:  The decapitated bodies of two Frontier 
Corpsmen were found buried in a cemetery in Ambar tehsil.  The 
two were kidnapped by militants in May from a checkpoint in the 
Spenkai Tangai area of Khwezai tehsil.  Security forces arrested 
nine suspected militants and demolished 12 militant houses in 
Haleemzai tehsil.  Suspected militant commander Umar Said 
surrendered to the political administration of Asi Kot Qandharo. 
 
 
28 July - Khyber:  The decapitated body of a Frontier Corps 
soldier was found in Bara tehsil.  He was kidnapped from the Sur 
Ghar Malakdinkhel area. 
 
29 July - Mohmand:  Militants fired upon a pickup truck carrying 
khassadars on the Peshawar-Bajaur Road near Malook Korona, 
killing two and wounding six others.  Nine militants surrendered 
to the political administration in Safi tehsil. 
 
29 July - Khyber:  An IED attack on a Frontier Corps security 
escort vehicle traveling on the Peshawar-Torkham Road caused no 
casualties; however, response fire by the FC left two khassadars 
and one civilian wounded in the Sadukhel area.  Authorities 
arrested 25 people from the area and demolished several houses 
in retaliation for the initial attack. 
 
30 July - Bajaur:  Security forces demolished the house of a 
militant in Yousafabad.  The militant and three others were 
killed last week by security forces. 
 
PESHAWAR 00000168  006 OF 006 
 
 
 
30 July - Khyber:  A mortar killed four people when it struck a 
house in Akkakhel, Bara tehsil.  Following a session of 
Lashkar-i-Islam's Sharia court, four alleged kidnappers were 
executed by a LI firing squad in Qambarkhel, Bara tehsil. 
 
 
Southern FATA 
- - - - - - - 
 
¶13. (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: 
 
25 July - North Waziristan:  One woman was killed and three 
other civilians were wounded by fire from helicopter gunships in 
Miranshah.  Security forces recovered the headless body of an 
Afghani national in Nozak village with a note in Pashto that 
identified the deceased as a US spy. 
 
25 July - FR Kohat:  Pakistani helicopter gunships conducted 
strikes against militant positions in the mountains near the Sra 
Mela area of Bosti Khel.  No casualties were reported. 
 
26 July - North Waziristan:  Security forces discovered three 
unidentified bullet-riddled bodies dumped on the side of the 
Mirali-Miranshah Road.  Six IEDs were discovered planted 
separately along the Mirali-Miranshah Road. 
 
26 July - FR Bannu:  Militants stopped and kidnapped two 
Frontier Constabulary personnel near the Lwar bridge.  An IED at 
the Lwar Bridge wounded five Frontier Constabulary personnel as 
their van passed while they were in pursuit of the kidnappers 
 
27 July - North Waziristan:  Security force helicopter gunship 
strikes wounded five militants in an attack on a Gul Bahadar 
group commander's residence near Miram Shah. 
 
27 July - FR Kohat:  Security forces arrested seven militants in 
the Manda Khel area of Darra Adam Khel. 
 
28 July - North Waziristan:  A suicide VBIED attack on the 
Ghulam Khan checkpoint killed one security official and wounded 
five others. 
 
29 July - North Waziristan:  Security forces killed three 
militants during an exchange of fire in the Dosali area, four 
soldiers were also wounded.  Militants attacked security forces 
at the Girdi Rogha Fort on the Esha-Razmak Road and kidnapped 10 
Frontier Corps soldiers. 
 
30 July - North Waziristan:  Militants ambushed a Frontier Corps 
convoy on the Miram Shah-Dattakhel Road, killing one soldier. 
Two militants were killed and seven injured during the exchange 
of fire. 
 
30 July - South Waziristan:  A roadside bomb apparently 
targeting an Ahmedzai Wazir malik exploded with no casualties in 
the Gangikhel area. 
 
Government and Community Response 
- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - 
 
¶14. (SBU) This is a summary of government and community 
activities undertaken outside of the NWFP and FATA to halt the 
spread of talibanization within those regions: 
 
25 July - Attock:  Police arrested Shah Abdul Aziz, a former 
National Assembly member aligned with the JUI-F from Karak 
district; they accused him of involvement in more than 15 
suicide attacks, several assassinations, and the kidnapping of a 
Polish engineer (later killed and decapitated by the militants). 
TRACY