U.S.- SUPPLIED MILITARY VEHICLES DAMAGED IN KARACHI

C O N F I D E N T I A L KARACHI 000490 SIPDIS E.O. 12958: DECL: 08/25/2018 TAGS: ELAB ELTN ETRD PGOV PREL PTER PK SUBJECT: U.S.- SUPPLIED MILITARY VEHICLES DAMAGED IN KARACHI Classified By: Classified by Consul General Kay Anske for Reasons 1.4 b and d ¶1. (C) Summary: On August 24, one of two light military vehicles, loaded on a flat-bed truck and destined for a military post in Afghanisan, was damaged when unidentified attackers shot at several trucks in a truck staging area near Karachi Port. The likely motive for the attack is a transportation workers strike and not related to U.S. military activity. End Summary. ¶2. (C) On August 18, 2008 two HMMWV (Up-Armored Humvee) light military vehicles, intended for Afghanistan, were loaded on a flat-bed truck at Karachi Port and transported to a truck staging area a short distance away. The following day transportation workers went on strike over fuel prices and road tolls. On August 24, an unknown number of unidentified men used small-arms to fire on four or five trucks parked in the staging area. None of the other trucks involved had any connection to the USG or U.S. military activity. The truck carrying the military vehicles caught fire and one of the vehicles was damaged before firefighters extinguished the flames. As of the afternoon of 25 August, there are many transportation workers in the area where the event took place. They are throwing rocks at any trucks that try to leave the area. ¶3. (C) The vehicles had been cleared through customs by the U.S. Consulate General, Karachi. Shipping documents show they were intended for Afghan National Army Depot 2 Off Jalalabad, Afghanistan, Attn: CSTC-ADRD LOG. ¶4. (C) Comment: While this event probably had nothing to do with the U.S. war-effort, a report in the local print media reads as if it was a victory for pro-Taliban forces. At a bare minimum, it may serve as a suggestion for a future course of action to anti-NATO extremist forces. Anske