Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
07ISLAMABAD2317
2007-05-23 13:58:00
CONFIDENTIAL
Embassy Islamabad
Cable title:
TRUCKS DESTROYED IN ROCKET ATTACK AT TORKHAM
how-toVZCZCXRO4072 PP RUEHDBU RUEHLH RUEHPW DE RUEHIL #2317 1431358 ZNY CCCCC ZZH P 231358Z MAY 07 FM AMEMBASSY ISLAMABAD TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC PRIORITY 9327 INFO RUEHAH/AMEMBASSY ASHGABAT PRIORITY 2449 RUEHTA/AMEMBASSY ASTANA PRIORITY 0160 RUEHKB/AMEMBASSY BAKU PRIORITY 0149 RUEHEK/AMEMBASSY BISHKEK PRIORITY 4204 RUEHLM/AMEMBASSY COLOMBO PRIORITY 1316 RUEHKA/AMEMBASSY DHAKA PRIORITY 2083 RUEHDBU/AMEMBASSY DUSHANBE PRIORITY RUEHBUL/AMEMBASSY KABUL PRIORITY 7133 RUEHKT/AMEMBASSY KATHMANDU PRIORITY 8324 RUEHLO/AMEMBASSY LONDON PRIORITY 5666 RUEHNE/AMEMBASSY NEW DELHI PRIORITY 1000 RUEHFR/AMEMBASSY PARIS PRIORITY 4800 RUEHNT/AMEMBASSY TASHKENT PRIORITY 3181 RUEHKP/AMCONSUL KARACHI PRIORITY 6109 RUEHLH/AMCONSUL LAHORE PRIORITY 2396 RUEHPW/AMCONSUL PESHAWAR PRIORITY 0741 RUEHNO/USMISSION USNATO PRIORITY 2362 RUEKJCS/JOINT STAFF WASHINGTON DC PRIORITY RUEKJCS/SECDEF WASHINGTON DC PRIORITY RHEHNSC/NSC WASHDC PRIORITY RUEAIIA/CIA WASHDC PRIORITY
C O N F I D E N T I A L ISLAMABAD 002317
SIPDIS
SIPDIS
E.O. 12958: DECL: 05/22/2017
TAGS: PK AF PREL
SUBJECT: TRUCKS DESTROYED IN ROCKET ATTACK AT TORKHAM
BORDER (CORRECTED CLASSIFICATION)
Classified By: A/DCM Cecile Shea, Reasons 1.4 (b),(d)
C O N F I D E N T I A L ISLAMABAD 002317
SIPDIS
SIPDIS
E.O. 12958: DECL: 05/22/2017
TAGS: PK AF PREL
SUBJECT: TRUCKS DESTROYED IN ROCKET ATTACK AT TORKHAM
BORDER (CORRECTED CLASSIFICATION)
Classified By: A/DCM Cecile Shea, Reasons 1.4 (b),(d)
1. (C//REL TO ISAF, NATO) According to Mission contacts, at
approximately 0400 local time Monday, May 21, unknown persons
fired two Russian-made MRB-12 rockets at a group of fuel
trucks bound for Coalition forces in Afghanistan. The trucks
were parked in a lot near the Torkham border crossing, about
35 miles west of Peshawar. At least four of the trucks were
destroyed, and the media reported another six trucks severely
damaged. Local Frontier Corps soldiers confiscated three
additional rockets of the same type from a nearby hilltop and
detained eight Afghan refugees for questioning. (Note: At
this time, authorities cannot verify that the eight detained
refugees were associated with the rocket attack. End Note.)
2. (C//REL TO ISAF, NATO) Oil tanker drivers tell us they
often must spend days and even weeks parked on the Pakistan
side of Torkham crossing while they wait for Afghan officials
to process their customs and other documents. They report
that the delays are a security issue, as multiple fuel trucks
parked near each other provide targets of opportunity for
miscreants and others. Several dozen truckers protested
processing delays May 22, blocking the road leading to the
border crossing for 30 minutes.
3. (C//REL TO ISAF, NATO) The attack followed a May 7 fuel
truck bombing in which nine trucks were destroyed in the
Landikohtal area, about 6 miles from Torkham. Media reported
the May 21 incident was part of a growing trend of attacks
against fuel tankers traveling through the Northwest Frontier
Province. Local contacts claimed that some of these recent
attacks, however, were staged. According to these contacts
and to press reports, some truckers have siphoned the fuel
from their trucks and then set the vehicles on fire to cover
up the theft; contacts report some truckers have also simply
destroyed the trucks (without first siphoning fuel) and
sought insurance money from their trucking companies. The
involvement of rockets in Monday's attack, however, leads
observers and the press to believe the event was not staged.
BODDE
SIPDIS
SIPDIS
E.O. 12958: DECL: 05/22/2017
TAGS: PK AF PREL
SUBJECT: TRUCKS DESTROYED IN ROCKET ATTACK AT TORKHAM
BORDER (CORRECTED CLASSIFICATION)
Classified By: A/DCM Cecile Shea, Reasons 1.4 (b),(d)
1. (C//REL TO ISAF, NATO) According to Mission contacts, at
approximately 0400 local time Monday, May 21, unknown persons
fired two Russian-made MRB-12 rockets at a group of fuel
trucks bound for Coalition forces in Afghanistan. The trucks
were parked in a lot near the Torkham border crossing, about
35 miles west of Peshawar. At least four of the trucks were
destroyed, and the media reported another six trucks severely
damaged. Local Frontier Corps soldiers confiscated three
additional rockets of the same type from a nearby hilltop and
detained eight Afghan refugees for questioning. (Note: At
this time, authorities cannot verify that the eight detained
refugees were associated with the rocket attack. End Note.)
2. (C//REL TO ISAF, NATO) Oil tanker drivers tell us they
often must spend days and even weeks parked on the Pakistan
side of Torkham crossing while they wait for Afghan officials
to process their customs and other documents. They report
that the delays are a security issue, as multiple fuel trucks
parked near each other provide targets of opportunity for
miscreants and others. Several dozen truckers protested
processing delays May 22, blocking the road leading to the
border crossing for 30 minutes.
3. (C//REL TO ISAF, NATO) The attack followed a May 7 fuel
truck bombing in which nine trucks were destroyed in the
Landikohtal area, about 6 miles from Torkham. Media reported
the May 21 incident was part of a growing trend of attacks
against fuel tankers traveling through the Northwest Frontier
Province. Local contacts claimed that some of these recent
attacks, however, were staged. According to these contacts
and to press reports, some truckers have siphoned the fuel
from their trucks and then set the vehicles on fire to cover
up the theft; contacts report some truckers have also simply
destroyed the trucks (without first siphoning fuel) and
sought insurance money from their trucking companies. The
involvement of rockets in Monday's attack, however, leads
observers and the press to believe the event was not staged.
BODDE