INSURGENCY IN IRAN AND SOUTHEAST ASIA

• Document Type: CREST
• Collection: General CIA Records
• Document Number (FOIA) /ESDN (CREST): CIA-RDP79T00429A001100040007-4
• Release Decision: RIPPUB
• Original Classification: S
• Document Page Count: 3
• Document Creation Date: December 20, 2016
• Document Release Date: March 8, 2006
• Sequence Number: 7
• Publication Date: May 7, 1963
• Content Type: IM

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OCI No. 1703/63
CENTRAL INTELLIGENCE AGENCY
Office of Current Intelligence
7 May 1963
CURRENT INTELLIGENCE MEMORANDUM
SUBJECT: Insurgency in Iran and Southeast Asia
a. During the past week there has evidently
been a lull in the fighting involving tribal insur-
gents in southwestern Iran, Government units occupy
strongpoints throughout the area, and insurgents have
broken contact and have withdrawn into hilly areas
north or west of Shiraz.
b. The hard core of insurgency continues
to be a group of 200 or 300 Boir Ahmadi, possibly
including some Sorkhi tribesmen. This band, largely
armed with shotguns in the early days of the present
insurrection, has now acquired approximately 125 mili-
tary rifles, several light machineguns, and a few
60- or 81-mm. mortars.
c. The slopes and high valleys of the Zagros
mountain range are rapidly filling with Bakhtiari
and Qashgai tribesmen. The general condition of
these groups and of their flocks is poor and there
have.been reports of clashes between them and vil-
lagers when the flocks have broken into cultivated
areas on their way to summer pasture. As yet there
has been no report of organized anti-government
activity by either , Bakhtiari.or Qashgai,
2. Laos
a. The relative lull in fighting on the
Plaine des Jarres has continued, but an early re
sumption of serious clashes threatens as a result
of the breakdown in negotiations following the 3
May Pathet Lao attack on two ICC helicopters near
Phong Savan, Reinforcement activity and maneuvering
ARMY review(s) completed.
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of units is being stepped up by both sides. Indica-
tions are that the Pathet Lao have used the recent
lull to strengthen their positions at several points
in the area. Counteraction is being taken against
Meo units north of Xieng Khouang town, and a general
Communist effort against other close-in Meo elements
is likely.
b. The Pathet Lao appear to be taking steps
to interdict aerial resupply to the neutralists, and
reportedly have emplaced six or seven Soviet-type
anti-aircraft guns within ten miles of Kong Le's
headquarters at Muong Phanh. Increased Communist
activity in central and southern Laos may in part
be connected with preparations for increased back-
stopping of the Viet Cong effort in South Vietnam.
3. South Vietnam
a. The level of Viet Cong:activity declined
last week from the stepped-up pace noted in late April,
although further attacks in company or battalion
strength may be expected against opportune targets.
US military intelligence in South Vietnam now identi-
fies some 32 Viet Cong battalions--averaging about
300 in strength--throughout the country and 136
separate companies. Two newly accepted battalions
are composed primarily of artillery specialists, but
do not possess artillery weapons. Four skeletal
regimental headquarters are also accepted, and two
more may be in process of formation. These head-
quarters do not serve combat regiments as such, but
appear capable of coordinating multiple infantry
battalion operations.
b. Continued reports from Laos of North
Vietnamese convoys traveling south may indicate a
repetition of the 1962 pattern of relatively high-
level infiltration into South Vietnam during May,
June, and early July.
4. Cambodia
a. There has been no significant develop-
ment in the Cambodian security situation during the
past week. Unprecedented security measures were
taken during Liu Shao-chi's good will visit. His
itinerary was not publicly disclosed, and Chinese
and Vietnamese elements were temporarily detained.
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b. The development of more elaborate ter-
ritorial commands and administrative organizations
has been a continuous process in military and gov-
ernment planning. During the past year the Cambodian
Army has established itself at company level on a
permanent basis in some of the newly created district
and subdistrict administrative units. Such deploy-
ment of regular army strength shows not only the
French tradition of establishing military. strong-
points throughout the country but also the desire
of the army to give itself territorial control
roughly paralleling that of the civil government.
Recent training exercises have been carried out at
these lowest administrative levels and have pro-
vided the army further contact with the local pop-
ulace.
5. There has been no significant development
in the security situation in Thailand during the
past week.
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