POST CONVENES EAC MEETING FOLLOWING KILLING OF USAID

S E C R E T PESHAWAR 000508 SIPDIS E.O. 12958: DECL: 11/12/2018 TAGS: PTER ASEC CASC MOPS PK SUBJECT: POST CONVENES EAC MEETING FOLLOWING KILLING OF USAID INSTITUTIONAL CONTRACTOR CLASSIFIED BY: Lynne Tracy, Principal Officer, Peshawar, Department of State. REASON: 1.4 (d) ¶1. (C) Post convened an Emergency Action Committee meeting at 11:00 (local) and at 15:00 (local) on November 12, following an attack on USAID contractor, AmCit, Stephen Vance, killing him and his Pakistani driver. Vance was Chief of Party (head) of USAID Contractor Community Housing Foundation International (CHF),one of the contractors working on USAID's Livelihoods Programs in the FATA. All Consulate direct hire and TDY personnel have been accounted for and are safe. PO, RSO, RAO, POL/ECON, CONS, PD, USAID, and ODRP attended. Description of Attack -------------- ¶2. (S) According to eye witnesses, at approximately 08:15 (local) on November 12, two vehicles blocked the front and rear of Mr. Vance's unarmored vehicle near the intersection of Attaturk Lane and Syed Jamaladdin Afghani Road in Peshawar's University Town suburb as he was being driven to work. The four to eight attackers first shot his driver in the head and then turned and shot Mr. Vance. Approximately 10 shots were fired in all. One witness said the attackers checked Mr. Vance after the shooting and before departing the scene in two Toyota Corolla vehicles. The location of the attack was directly in front of one of the U.S. Consulate residences, Special Forces (SOCCE) and within 100 meters of where most U.S. Consulate Employees reside. The attack appears to have been captured by fixed SOCCE cameras. Post is working to retrieve the images. Initial Assessment -------------- ¶3. (S) While there have been no claims of responsibility, operations in Bajaur and Swat against insurgents have hit hard in recent weeks with threats by insurgents of increased attacks if the GOP did not cease operations in Bajaur and Swat. This attack follows the bombing at "Inter-provincial games" at Qayyum Stadium November 11. (Septel) While these two attacks may not be related they demonstrate the heightened threat conditions in Peshawar. Consulate Peshawar's USAID western permanent expatriate contract staff stands at 10, all associated with USAID development efforts. Next Steps -------------- ¶4. (S) EAC agreed to lift the lock-down status and limit operations to mission critical only travel through Friday, November 14, while PO and RSO review and adjust post's security posture, particularly security arrangements for home-to-office travel. Post is cancelling all visits except those related to mission essential business. An OBO team to review the Pearl Continental Hotel site arrived November 11. Post is working to help the OBO team complete its mission as scheduled. For mission critical travel, PO reinforced the need to remain vigilant, vary routes and times and stay alert. A warden message has been sent to alert U.S. citizens of the attack and that U.S. Consulate personnel have been told to hold in place. ¶5. (S) RSO Peshawar has contacted local security assets and requested increased police presence at the Consulate and Khyber Club (American Club). The RSO has also instructed Local Guard Force and Surveillance Detection Teams and bodyguards to heighten their situational awareness in their respective areas. TRACY