Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
08PESHAWAR396
2008-07-11 04:02:00
CONFIDENTIAL
Consulate Peshawar
Cable title:
NWFP: STANDOFF AT HANGU POLICE STATION
how-toO 110402Z JUL 08 FM AMCONSUL PESHAWAR TO SECSTATE WASHDC IMMEDIATE 7543 INFO AMCONSUL PESHAWAR AMEMBASSY ISLAMABAD IMMEDIATE AMCONSUL KARACHI IMMEDIATE AMCONSUL LAHORE IMMEDIATE AMEMBASSY KABUL IMMEDIATE AMEMBASSY NEW DELHI IMMEDIATE AMEMBASSY LONDON IMMEDIATE AMEMBASSY OTTAWA IMMEDIATE AMEMBASSY CANBERRA IMMEDIATE USMISSION USNATO IMMEDIATE AMEMBASSY THE HAGUE IMMEDIATE NSC WASHINGTON DC CIA WASHDC JOINT STAFF WASHINGTON DC USCENTCOM INTEL CEN MACDILL AFB FL
C O N F I D E N T I A L PESHAWAR 000396
E.O. 12958: DECL: 7/11/2018
TAGS: PTER MOPS PGOV PK
SUBJECT: NWFP: STANDOFF AT HANGU POLICE STATION
REF: PESHAWAR 384
CLASSIFIED BY: Michael A. Via, Acting Principal Officer,
Consulate Peshawar, State.
REASON: 1.4 (a),(b),(d)
Summary
-------
C O N F I D E N T I A L PESHAWAR 000396
E.O. 12958: DECL: 7/11/2018
TAGS: PTER MOPS PGOV PK
SUBJECT: NWFP: STANDOFF AT HANGU POLICE STATION
REF: PESHAWAR 384
CLASSIFIED BY: Michael A. Via, Acting Principal Officer,
Consulate Peshawar, State.
REASON: 1.4 (a),(b),(d)
Summary
--------------
1. (C) A brief militant "siege" at a police station in the
Northwest Frontier Province's (NWFP) Hangu district has
dispersed after 200 Pakistani Army troops were deployed to the
region. Approximately 20 government officials remain in
militant captivity and negotiations are underway to secure their
release. The stakes are high in this effort by the GOP to
secure the troubled settled/tribal divide as memories of recent
militant incursions into the settled areas are still fresh in
the minds of locals. End Summary.
Standoff in Hangu
--------------
2. (C) Militants surrounded a police station in the NWFP's Hangu
district on July 9 and demanded that police release seven of
their associates who had been arrested earlier in Doaba.
Contacts at 11th Corps told ODRP/Peshawar that 200 Army troops
had been deployed to Doaba on July 9 to "reinforce local
security forces and return stability to the area." While
militants have dispersed and there have been no reports of
casualties during the standoff, approximately 20 police officers
and other government officials were abducted during the siege
and remain in militant captivity.
3. (C) Hangu's district Nazim (Mayor) confirmed on July 10 that
negotiations led by the Regional Coordination Officer (a senior
bureaucrat responsible for several NWFP districts) are underway
to secure the release of the kidnapped officials. The militants
have demanded the release of their seven colleagues arrested on
July 9. The Nazim stated that religious leaders are being used
as intermediaries between the government officials and
militants, which he described simply as "taliban." (Note: Local
observers comment that Hangu is within Baitullah Mehsud's sphere
of influence. End note.)
Hangu Heating Up
--------------
4. (C) Hangu based contacts note that the security situation in
the district has deteriorated over recent months. Militant
spillover from Kurram's ongoing sectarian conflict and Darra
Adamkhel's growing lawlessness has led to a perception among
residents in Hangu that the government is not responding quickly
enough. Roads leading in and out of Hangu have been regular
targets for both kidnappings and sectarian violence. In June
alone, at least 14 people, mostly government workers, were
kidnapped. Locals say that they feel "isolated" due to
difficulties traveling in and out of the agency. Contacts based
in Hangu report that "Taliban" are now roaming freely in the
district.
Comment
--------------
5. (C) The stakes are high in this most recent attempt by the
GOP to reinforce its influence on the troubled tribal/settled
divide. Memories of the government's slow response to Baitullah
Mehsud's June 23 occupation of Jandola in Frontier Region Tank
and the subsequent execution of 23 tribal elders (reftel) are
still fresh in the minds of locals on the Kohat/Hangu border.
They are are beginning to doubt the GOP's ability or willingness
to assist them if they stand up to militant advances.
VIA
E.O. 12958: DECL: 7/11/2018
TAGS: PTER MOPS PGOV PK
SUBJECT: NWFP: STANDOFF AT HANGU POLICE STATION
REF: PESHAWAR 384
CLASSIFIED BY: Michael A. Via, Acting Principal Officer,
Consulate Peshawar, State.
REASON: 1.4 (a),(b),(d)
Summary
--------------
1. (C) A brief militant "siege" at a police station in the
Northwest Frontier Province's (NWFP) Hangu district has
dispersed after 200 Pakistani Army troops were deployed to the
region. Approximately 20 government officials remain in
militant captivity and negotiations are underway to secure their
release. The stakes are high in this effort by the GOP to
secure the troubled settled/tribal divide as memories of recent
militant incursions into the settled areas are still fresh in
the minds of locals. End Summary.
Standoff in Hangu
--------------
2. (C) Militants surrounded a police station in the NWFP's Hangu
district on July 9 and demanded that police release seven of
their associates who had been arrested earlier in Doaba.
Contacts at 11th Corps told ODRP/Peshawar that 200 Army troops
had been deployed to Doaba on July 9 to "reinforce local
security forces and return stability to the area." While
militants have dispersed and there have been no reports of
casualties during the standoff, approximately 20 police officers
and other government officials were abducted during the siege
and remain in militant captivity.
3. (C) Hangu's district Nazim (Mayor) confirmed on July 10 that
negotiations led by the Regional Coordination Officer (a senior
bureaucrat responsible for several NWFP districts) are underway
to secure the release of the kidnapped officials. The militants
have demanded the release of their seven colleagues arrested on
July 9. The Nazim stated that religious leaders are being used
as intermediaries between the government officials and
militants, which he described simply as "taliban." (Note: Local
observers comment that Hangu is within Baitullah Mehsud's sphere
of influence. End note.)
Hangu Heating Up
--------------
4. (C) Hangu based contacts note that the security situation in
the district has deteriorated over recent months. Militant
spillover from Kurram's ongoing sectarian conflict and Darra
Adamkhel's growing lawlessness has led to a perception among
residents in Hangu that the government is not responding quickly
enough. Roads leading in and out of Hangu have been regular
targets for both kidnappings and sectarian violence. In June
alone, at least 14 people, mostly government workers, were
kidnapped. Locals say that they feel "isolated" due to
difficulties traveling in and out of the agency. Contacts based
in Hangu report that "Taliban" are now roaming freely in the
district.
Comment
--------------
5. (C) The stakes are high in this most recent attempt by the
GOP to reinforce its influence on the troubled tribal/settled
divide. Memories of the government's slow response to Baitullah
Mehsud's June 23 occupation of Jandola in Frontier Region Tank
and the subsequent execution of 23 tribal elders (reftel) are
still fresh in the minds of locals on the Kohat/Hangu border.
They are are beginning to doubt the GOP's ability or willingness
to assist them if they stand up to militant advances.
VIA