Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
09PESHAWAR136
2009-06-23 05:30:00
SECRET
Consulate Peshawar
Cable title:  

POST CONVENES EAC ON JUNE 19, 2009

Tags:  ASEC PTER MOPS PK 
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O 230530Z JUN 09
FM AMCONSUL PESHAWAR
TO SECSTATE WASHDC IMMEDIATE 8073
INFO AMEMBASSY ISLAMABAD IMMEDIATE 
AMCONSUL KARACHI IMMEDIATE 
AMCONSUL LAHORE IMMEDIATE 
AMEMBASSY KABUL IMMEDIATE 
CIA WASHDC
CDR USCENTCOM MACDILL AFB FL
CDR USSOCOM MACDILL AFB FL
DEA HQ WASHDC
AMCONSUL PESHAWAR
S E C R E T PESHAWAR 000136 


DS/IP/SCA; DS/EX; DS/TIA/ITA; DS/CT

E.O. 12958: DECL: 6/23/2019
TAGS: ASEC PTER MOPS PK
SUBJECT: POST CONVENES EAC ON JUNE 19, 2009

REF: PESHAWAR 129

CLASSIFIED BY: Lynne Tracy, Principal Officer, U.S. Consulate
Peshawar, Department of State.
REASON: 1.4 (d)

Summary
-------

S E C R E T PESHAWAR 000136


DS/IP/SCA; DS/EX; DS/TIA/ITA; DS/CT

E.O. 12958: DECL: 6/23/2019
TAGS: ASEC PTER MOPS PK
SUBJECT: POST CONVENES EAC ON JUNE 19, 2009

REF: PESHAWAR 129

CLASSIFIED BY: Lynne Tracy, Principal Officer, U.S. Consulate
Peshawar, Department of State.
REASON: 1.4 (d)

Summary
--------------


1. (S/NF) Post convened an Emergency Action Committee (EAC)
meeting on June 19. Principal Officer (PO),RSO, RAO,
ODRP/SOC-FWD, MGT, and GSO attended the meeting. The EAC
reviewed post's decision to re-locate some personnel to
Islamabad on June 13 in light of specific, credible threat
information targeting Consulate personnel and facilities
(reftel). Peshawar's airport closed on June 17 because of a
threat report targeting flight operations, but re-opened on June

19. There were no significant incidents of violence in Peshawar
the week of June 15.


2. (S/NF) Given the continuing threats against targets in
Peshawar in retaliation for military operations in South
Waziristan and Swat, the EAC determined that it was prudent to
remain at a reduced footprint and limit movements to mission
essential purposes until additional resources and
counter-measures can be put in place. Post estimates that
approximately a month may be required to position these
resources and counter-measures. Post is re-directing consular
services to Islamabad. The EAC will continue to review the
threat environment and post's security posture and staffing
levels (currently 68 personnel under Chief of Mission
authority). End Summary.

Threat Reporting
--------------


3. (S/NF) RAO briefed the EAC on threat reporting indicating
that Tehrik-i-Taliban and/or al-Qai'da elements continue to plan
and stage attack components from Khyber's Bara area
(approximately 10 km southwest of Peshawar) and elsewhere in the
Federally Administered Tribal Areas (FATA). The attack plans
over the week of June 15 primarily consisted of the use of car
bombs in Peshawar directed at largely at security elements and
the cantonment area. On June 17, the Peshawar airport was
closed after authorities became concerned about possible attacks
from the ground on aircraft during approach and after take-off.
The airport re-opened on June 19. (Note: The Peshawar airport
has been hit by occasional rocket attacks from the hills to the
south and west of the airport, but no rockets have caused any
substantial damage to date.) Peshawar personnel have resumed

use of the airport.

Additional Check Points
--------------


4. (S/NF) RSO briefed on the visible increase in check points
targeting primarily trucks traveling into and out of Peshawar.
Post is now required to provide a minimum of 48 hours notice for
any truck on Consulate business entering or exiting Peshawar.
Capital City Police Officer (CCPO) Sifwat Ghayyur acknowledged
to RSO, however, on June 17 that most of his police "don't know
what they are looking for" and that there was a strong
likelihood that his forces would not detect an explosive device.


Re-Located Personnel and Mitigation
--------------


5. (S/NF) There were no significant incidents of violence in
Peshawar the week of June 15. However, given the continuing
threats against targets in Peshawar in retaliation for military
operations in South Waziristan and Swat, the EAC determined that
it was prudent to remain at a reduced footprint and limit
movements to mission essential purposes until additional
resources and counter-measures can be put in place, particularly
the World-Wide-Personnel-Protective-Service (WPPS) contract and
creation of additional setback near the housing cluster.


6. (S/NF) PO briefed that the visas for WPPS personnel had been
approved but there was some lag because passports were now being
assembled and re-submitted to the Pakistan Embassy. Senior
Northwest Frontier Province officials have expressed support for
additional drop-arms near the housing cluster. RSO is working
with the CCPO on issues of placement and manning of the
drop-arms. Post is expecting survey teams that week of June 22
to review additional security measures and capacity of Consulate
compound to support emergency housing facilities.


7. (SBU) Peshawar personnel scheduled to arrive within the next
month while post is operating at a reduced footprint will be
re-directed to Islamabad and temporarily work from the Embassy
in support of Peshawar operations.

Consular Operations
--------------


8. (C) Peshawar normally provides American citizen services by
appointment only. Post is suspending consular services and will
re-direct that function to Islamabad. Consular appointments
have been scheduled and canceled multiple times over the past
couple of months because of the volatility in Peshawar's
security environment. PO in coordination with Islamabad's
Consul General determined that providing better predictability
in fulfilling consular services was the primary objective in
terms of supporting American citizens for routine services.
(Note: Islamabad is an approximately 2.5 hour drive from
Peshawar.) The Embassy will provide public notification.


Current Staffing
--------------


9. (S/NF) Post's current staffing under Chief of Mission
authority is 68 (State - 17; ODRP/SOC-FWD - 22; and RAO - 29).
After careful review of threat concerns and countermeasures, the
EAC determined that the current Consulate staffing provides the
correct balance of supporting Mission critical policy objectives
while offering personnel resident in Peshawar the greatest
degree of protection. Further adjustments to the Consulate
security profile will be considered as circumstances dictate.


TRACY