MILNET Brief:
Warlords of Pakistan, 06/29/2008, updates: 7/1/2008

Pakistani Violence  |  Pakistani Political Parties

Pakistan's Tribal Areas are run by warlords who have, for nearly have a century, consistently and quite successfully defied efforts of the Pakistani government to control them.  The modern version of these warlords have ties to both the Pakistani  and Afghani Taliban.  Several of these warlords have publicly claimed they would welcome Al-Qaeda into their camps, and in one case specifically Dr. Ayman Al-Zawahri, bin-Laden's second in command.

This briefing looks at the these warlords by first identifying the worst of the worst of these warlords and then includes a listing created by Bill Roggio of the Waziristan leaders who should interest anyone studying terrorism and the current conflicts in NW Pakistan.

We should note from the start however, that when this briefing, and for that matter any of the quoted sources speak of the Pakistani government's efforts to defeat the warlords, it should always be noted that much of this recent activity is only at the behest of Perez Musharraf, the current President of the country. 

On the other hand there have been attempts by factions within the government, specifically either leaders of dissident parties with seats in the Pakistani Parliament or Regional Assemblies (similar to a small degree to a U.S. State legislature) to create truces and treaties with the warlords in order to reduce or eliminate the violence.  As might be expected NONE of these treaties have lasted very long, and yet the more liberal parties and National Assembly continue to try to appease the militants despite overwhelming evidence that particular political methodology is clearly has not worked.


Key Warlords in Pakistan:
Warlord
 Profile/Activities
Mangal Bagh (Afridi) Leader of Lashare Islam, a.k.a. Lashkar-e-islam (Army of Islam), extreme fundamentalist, punishes people for listening to music, not wearing beards and not praying five times a day.   Bagh was thought to have fled from his home in late June of 2008 when his house was attacked by a raid into the Sipah section of Bara. 3

The Bara area is 10 km NE of Peshawar.  The area is a "subdivision" of the Khyber tribal agency and has an adjoining border with Peshawar.  Mangal Bagh, has claimed to be the Amir (chieftain), and has his own private militia calling themselves Lashare Islam (Army of Islam).  In April, Bagh's men stormed the houses of his rivals in neighboring subdivision of Jamrad.  Pakistan's government and security agencies appear to have made no effort
(according to the author of the article) to interfere.  Bagh's assault was supposed to have been carried out because his neighbors were conducting themselves sinfully:
 
    "[running] brothels, preparing and selling wine and taking tax from vehicles passing through the route to enter Afghanistan." 1
Baitullah Mehsud Leader (of what is believed to be the Pakistani Taliban 3)  in the tribal area of South Waziristan, wanted by the Pakistani government for the killings of Pakistan's former two-time premier and darling of the world press, Lady Benazir Bhutto.  Mehsud is also wanted for other criminal acts. 1   The Times Online 2 claimed on 12/28/2007 that Mehsud has ties to Al Qaeda and the Afghan Taliban.  According to Imtiaz Ali writing an article in the Jamestown Foundation, Mehsud has had a prominent role in spearheading the insurgency against Pakistan’s armed forces.  Authorities have have named him as the prime suspect and alleged mastermind behind the killing of opposition leader Benazir Bhutto [however this is disputed by several other sources - MILNET].  According to Ali, "Mehsud is a warlord based in the restive South Waziristan tribal agency and is said to be much revered by militants on both sides of the Pakistani-Afghan border. Locals say that he has more than 20,000 fighters, mostly from his Mehsud clan. Officials as well as his aides claim that he also has hundreds of trained fidayeen (men of sacrifice) ready to lay down their lives as suicide bombers upon his instructions. " 7 The warlord continues to fight the government in Hangu district as witnessed by his July, 2008 warning that attacks will continue in NWFP if the Peshawar governement does not resign 15
Haji Omar A Leader of the Pakistani Taliban found in South Waziristan.  Omar is reputed to have fought with the Afghan Mujahidin against the Soviets in Afghanistan 2
Maulana Faqir Mohammed In January of 2006, Pakistani forces raided the house in Bajaur -- thought to be an influential leader who is believed to have ties to al-Qaeda and the Taliban.  Bajaur borders the Kunar province in Afghanistan.  Mohammaed belongs to the local Mommand tribe  He was an active leaders of Jamat-e-Islami (JI) in the 1980s and is  considered a brave fighter and an expert at guerrilla warfare.  He is quoted in Nasir 6 as saying, "According to Pashtun tradition we will definitely exact revenge on America. Ayman al-Zawahiri never came here but if he wanted to come, we will welcome him, and it will be a great pleasure for us to be his host" (Daily Jang, January 23)."
Instigator Inspiring the warlords
Mustafa Setmariam Nasar, a.k.a. Abu Mus'ab al-Suri True name is Mustafa Abdul-Qadir Mustafa Hussein al-Sheikh Ahmed al-Mazeek al-Jakiri al-Rifa’ei, is linked to the original Syrian Muslim Brotherhood and reputed to be a former Mujahidin fighter in Afghanistan.  In 1998, he moved back to Afghanistan and pledged allegiance to Mullah Omar.  Nasar was accused of running the Derunta and al-Ghoraba camps located in Kabul and Jalalabad. The camps allegedly specialized in imparting training and expertise on toxic materials and chemical substances. The U.S. State Department voiced concern over Nasar’s association with WMDs, and he was also accused of being a close ally of Abu Mus’ab al-Zarqawi.  He is the author two key documents read by Jihadists worldwide, Da’wat al-Moqawma al-Islamiyah” (Global Islamic Resistance Call) - 1/2005, and a call for Pakistani Jihadists to rise up against the Pakistani government titled Pakistan Musharraf: al-Mushkila wal-Hall, wal-Farida al-Muta'ayyana (Musharraf's Pakistan: The Problem and the Solution…and the Incumbent Ordinance) 11/2004.  It should be noted that al-Suri was arrested in Pakistan in November of 2005.  8,10, 11 (paraphrased)
Dr. Ayman al-Zawahiri
 Number two in al-Qaeda, Zawahiri released a video in which he urges Pakistani Jihadists to rise up against the Pakistani government as well as join the worldwide Jihad against the U.S., Europe, non-rigorosu Sharra run countries like Saudi Arabia and Egypt, and of course Israel.  al-Zawahiri formed the Islamic Jihad in Egypt and has numerous ties to the Muslim Brotherhood which he left because they were not murderous enough.  He joined with Osama bin Laden to provide the underlying "troop" basis for al-Qaeda.


Others of Interest

While the leaders above are considered to be the most influential and the "worst of the worst" in Pakistan, Bill Roggio has laid out the command structures for both North and South Waziristan in his article The Pakistani Taliban Org Chart, Bill Roggio 12 (extracted)


The Command Structures in North and South Waziristan

North Waziristan:
Sadiq Noor: Runs operations from Miranshah and hosts Taliban and Al Qaeda meetings from his offices. Holds court under Sharia law, decides local disputes, announces punishments, collects money runs a private jail. Sadiq Noor is closely associated with JUI-F (Jamiat Ulema-e-Islam-Fazlur Rehman). JHe "fought on the Bagram front in Afghanistan against the Northern Alliance. He is also believed to support anti-U.S. entities in Khost, Afghanistan," notes the Jamestown Foundation.

Abu Kasha: An American intelligence source tells us Abu Kasha is the key link between al Qaeda's Shura Majlis (main Shura or consultative body) and the Taliban. Kasha is an Iraqi Arab who is runs his group from Mir Ali. He has two local commanders, Imanullah and Haq Nawaz Dawar who administer local offices. Kasha has a working relationship and close communication with Uzbek groups.

Najimuddin Uzbek: Commands the Uzbek group [the Islamic Jihad Group] in North Waziristan, and broke off from Tahir Jan Yeldeshaf gang [Tahir Yuldashev's Islamic Movement of Uzbekistan or IMU]. The IJG is a a Specially Designated Global Terrorist organization. Najim's group is also known as Ijaz Group, and are used by the Taliban and drug and arms smugglers.

South Waziristan:

Baitullah Mehsud:
The most powerful Taliban commander in South Waziristan. Signed a peace deal with the Pakistani authorities at Sara Rogha in February 2005 which ceded authority to the Taliban. It was agreed that the army will evacuate tribal territories, the Taliban will not attack the army, foreigners will not get protection, the army will not conduct operations against the Taliban if they agreed to help in the completion of development work. Established 16 offices in different parts of the Mehsud territory which are still functioning. Baitullah has a lashkar [tribal militia] of 30,000. Like Sadiq Noor, he associated with JUI-F.

Abdulla Mehsud: Associated with the Uzbek and Tajik wings of the Taliban. Abdullah Meshud has a tribal lashkar of about 5,000. Abdullah Mehsud was captured after Operation Enduring Freedom, spent 25 months in custody at Guantanamo Bay

Mullah Nazir: United 14 independent Taliban groups under his command, and is described as the most powerful Taliban commander. Like Baitullah Mehsud and Sadiq Noor, he is affiliated with JUI-F

Zanjeer: Associated with Gulbadin Hekmatyar of Hizb-e-Islami Hekmatyar. Also connected to the Jamaat-e-Islami [JI] in Pakistan.

Noor Islam: Based out of Wana; an active supporter of Uzbek/Tajik and Arabs fighters.

Haji Khanan: Based in the Shakai area of the agency, and opposes the presence of the Islamic Movement of Uzbekistan.
  - Bill Roggio 12 (extracted)



Activities:

This section will be used to update the briefing on current events deemed important following the initial publishing.





Sources:
  1. Peace Elusive Despite Deal With Taliban, Daud Khan (aimalkhan), OhmyNews, International Section, 5/25/2008
  2. Main Suspects Are Warlords and Security Forces, Jeremy Page, Times Online, 12/28/2007
  3. Pakistani Forces Move In On Taliban, Candice Rondeaux, The Washington Post, 6/29/2008
  4. South Waziristan's Veteran Jihadi Leader: A Profile of Haji Omar, Sohail Abdul Nasir, The Jamestown Foundation, 8/8/2006
  5. Baitullah Mehsud: South Wazirstan's Unofficial Amir, Sohail Abdul Nasir, The Jamestown Foundation, 7/5/2006
  6. Al-Zawahiri's Pakistani Ally:  Profile of Maulana Faqir Mohammed, Sohail Abdul Nasir, 3/9/2006
  7. Baitullah Mehsud - The Taliban's New Leader in Pakistan, Imtiaz Ali, The Jamestown Foundation, 1/8/2008
  8. Al-Suri's Treatise on Musharraf's Pakistan, Stephen Ulph, The Jamestown Foundation, 5/9/2006
  9. Profiles of Pakistan's Seven Tribal Agencies, Hassan Abbas, The Jamestown Foundation, 10/19/2006
  10. Abu Mus'ab al-Suri and the Third Generation of Salafi-Jihadists, Murad Al-shishani, 8/11/2005, The Jamestown Foundation
  11. The Arrest of Abu Musab al-Suri?, Bill Roggio, The Long War Journal, 11/2/2005
  12. The Pakistani Taliban Org Chart, Bill Roggio, The Long War Journal, 1/9/2007
  13. Explosion at Military Compound in Pakistan, Riaz Khan, A.P., Yahoo News, 6/30/2008
  14. Six Militants Killed in Safe House Blast, Ibrahim Shinwari, Dawn, 7/01/2008
  15. Pakistani Troops Kill Five Militants, Reuters, 7/19/2008

© Copyright  2008, MILNET