Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
08PESHAWAR537
2008-12-16 11:09:00
SECRET//NOFORN
Consulate Peshawar
Cable title:  

NWFP: GOVERNOR GHANI AGREES TO RESUME FREE FLOW OF TRUCK

Tags:  PTER MOPS PGOV PINR SNAR PK 
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RUMICEA/USCENTCOM INTEL CEN MACDILL AFB FL
S E C R E T SECTION 01 OF 02 PESHAWAR 000537 

NOFORN
SIPDIS

E.O. 12958: DECL: 12/16/2018
TAGS: PTER MOPS PGOV PINR SNAR PK
SUBJECT: NWFP: GOVERNOR GHANI AGREES TO RESUME FREE FLOW OF TRUCK
TRAFFIC

REF: PESHAWAR 523

CLASSIFIED BY: Michael A. Via, Acting Principal Officer,
Peshawar, Department of State.
REASON: 1.4 (a),(b),(d)
Summary
-------

S E C R E T SECTION 01 OF 02 PESHAWAR 000537

NOFORN
SIPDIS

E.O. 12958: DECL: 12/16/2018
TAGS: PTER MOPS PGOV PINR SNAR PK
SUBJECT: NWFP: GOVERNOR GHANI AGREES TO RESUME FREE FLOW OF TRUCK
TRAFFIC

REF: PESHAWAR 523

CLASSIFIED BY: Michael A. Via, Acting Principal Officer,
Peshawar, Department of State.
REASON: 1.4 (a),(b),(d)
Summary
--------------


1. (S/NF) Northwest Frontier Province Governor (NWFP) Owais
Ghani told Principal Officer (PO) during a December 13 visit to
his office in Peshawar that the free flow of truck traffic
between Peshawar and the Afghanistan border near Torkham could
resume now that the Eid holidays are over. There were three
groups that attacked the truck terminals in the run up to Eid,
one of which was led by a local militant affiliated with
Baitullah Mehsud. The Governor said that the militant used the
aliases "Yahya," "Idrat," and "Mustafa Kamran", full name Maulvi
Hijrat Yahya, and was captured when he came to Peshawar for Eid
shopping (NFI). Publicly, the Governor said, the government is
not confirming reports circulating in the press about this
arrest. (Note: While there may be some confusion over the
aliases used by the individual captured, the individual in
custody appears to have played a substantial role in planning
the killing of our USAID contractor and the attack on the
Principal Officer. End Note.)


2. (C) The Governor said that he had raised again the need for
funds to increase the size of the police force with President
Zardari but had received no commitment. The truck terminals on
the southern side of Peshawar that have been the site of recent
attacks were vulnerable because some had no walls and a very
small guard force on duty. (Note: This point was confirmed by a
Consulate employee who visited the site.) Ghani suggested that
shipping contractors look for alternative sites, possibly near
Attock, to stage cargo. Ghani's proposal to stage convoys
outside of the NWFP in neighboring Punjab province is probably
motivated by a genuine desire to avoid future attacks and not
simply to move the problem out of his area of responsibility.
End Summary.

Ghani Agrees to Free Flow of Truck Traffic
--------------


3. (C) Ghani agreed that the free flow of truck traffic between
Peshawar and the Afghanistan border near Torkham could resume
now that the Eid holidays are over. The Governor felt that the
volume could average 75 trucks per day in the run up to Muharram
but that he would tell the Khyber Political Agent to surge on
some days approaching 150 trucks per day. He also said that the
route would not be completely closed during Muharram, but the
flow of traffic is expected to be greatly reduced in an as yet
unspecified fifteen day period around the Muharram holidays.
(Note: The month of Muharram falls from December 18 - January
15, 2009. The officially observed holidays which are generally
2-3 days are expected to fall on dates o/a January 5.)

Recent Terminal Attacks
--------------


4. (C) Ghani told PO truck terminals on the southern side of
Peshawar which have been the site of recent attacks, were
vulnerable because some had no walls and a small guard force on
duty. He claimed that security for the terminals was the
primary responsibility of the terminal owners who should
strengthen the guard force at each site. Ghani said there were
three groups that attacked the terminals, one of which was led
by a militant using several aliases, including "Yahya," "Idrat,"
and "Mustafa Kamran," whom they had captured when he came to
Peshawar for Eid shopping (date of arrest NFI). While there are
reports circulating in the press about the arrest, the
government, Ghani said, is not publicly confirming the capture.
The origins and leaders of the other groups were as yet unknown.
According to post contacts and press reporting dozens of trucks
and containers of coalition supplies have been destroyed during
the first two weeks of December, including an attack in the
early hours of December 13 (reftel).

Ghani Meets with President Zardari
--------------


5. (C) Ghani said he had raised again the need for funds to

PESHAWAR 00000537 002 OF 002


increase the size of the police force with Zardari in a December
12 meeting. He complained that the immediate release of funds
to hire additional police promised a month earlier had not yet
materialized. He told Zardari "you want results but you are not
giving us the resources." Ghani said a meeting with Zardari,
himself and the Secretary of Finance would likely occur on
December 16 or 17 in Islamabad. IG Police Malik Naveed told PO
on December 11 that NWFP Chief Minister Hoti is dipping into the
development budget to pay for the planned 2,500 Elite Police, of
which 1,000 would be assigned to Peshawar. Ghani confirmed this
by stating that GOP funds planned for bridge and road projects
were being diverted to fund the police.

Ghani Suggests Alternative Sites To Stage Cargo
-------------- --


6. (C) Ghani suggested that shipping contractors look for
alternative sites to stage cargo based on the lack of security
at the current sites. His preferred site is Attock, east of
Peshawar in Punjab Province. He reasoned that trucks could take
off early in the morning from Attock, and pass through the
Khyber Pass the same day. He stated that he is committed to
working the clearances to make the same day transit possible.
Ghani said that terminals in Peshawar could still be used as a
brief rest stop or as a backup for sudden or unforeseen delays,
but the owners of the terminals in the Peshawar area had to
strengthen security at these sites.

Comment
--------------


7. (C) Ghani seemed engaged and aware of the details surrounding
truck traffic for coalition supplies. His proposal to stage
convoys outside of the NWFP in neighboring Punjab province is
probably motivated by a genuine desire to avoid future attacks
and not simply to move the problem out of his area of
responsibility.
VIA