Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
09PESHAWAR29
2009-02-18 12:13:00
CONFIDENTIAL
Consulate Peshawar
Cable title:
IMPROVING RESPONSES TO MILITANT ATTACKS NEAR PESHAWAR
how-toVZCZCXRO5316 OO RUEHLH RUEHPW DE RUEHPW #0029 0491213 ZNY CCCCC ZZH O 181213Z FEB 09 FM AMCONSUL PESHAWAR TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC IMMEDIATE 7836 INFO RUEHIL/AMEMBASSY ISLAMABAD IMMEDIATE 4611 RUEHLH/AMCONSUL LAHORE IMMEDIATE 1754 RUEHKP/AMCONSUL KARACHI IMMEDIATE 1761 RUEHBUL/AMEMBASSY KABUL IMMEDIATE 1396 RUEHNE/AMEMBASSY NEW DELHI IMMEDIATE 1030 RUEHLO/AMEMBASSY LONDON IMMEDIATE 0792 RUEAIIA/CIA WASHDC RHEFDIA/DIA WASHINGTON DC RHMFISS/FBI WASHINGTON DC RHMFISS/JOINT STAFF WASHINGTON DC RHEHAAA/NSC WASHINGTON DC RUEKJCS/SECDEF WASHINGTON DC RUMICEA/USCENTCOM INTEL CEN MACDILL AFB FL RHMFISS/CDR USSOCOM MACDILL AFB FL RUMICEA/USSOCOM INTEL OPS CEN MACDILL AFB FL RUEHPW/AMCONSUL PESHAWAR 4894
C O N F I D E N T I A L PESHAWAR 000029
SIPDIS
E.O. 12958: DECL: 2/18/2019
TAGS: PTER MOPS PGOV PK
SUBJECT: IMPROVING RESPONSES TO MILITANT ATTACKS NEAR PESHAWAR
REF: 08 ISLAMABAD 3944
CLASSIFIED BY: Lynne Tracy, Principal Officer, Peshawar,
Department of State.
REASON: 1.4 (a),(b),(d)
Summary
-------
C O N F I D E N T I A L PESHAWAR 000029
SIPDIS
E.O. 12958: DECL: 2/18/2019
TAGS: PTER MOPS PGOV PK
SUBJECT: IMPROVING RESPONSES TO MILITANT ATTACKS NEAR PESHAWAR
REF: 08 ISLAMABAD 3944
CLASSIFIED BY: Lynne Tracy, Principal Officer, Peshawar,
Department of State.
REASON: 1.4 (a),(b),(d)
Summary
--------------
1. (C) Recent attacks in Khyber Agency and Peshawar,
including the destruction of a bridge, indicate that militants
are still trying to disrupt U.S./NATO supply routes through
Pakistn to Afghanistan. In contrast to late last year, when
security forces were slow or failed to respond to attacks, we
are seeing some encouraging and welcome signs, particularly from
the police, of a more rapid response to violence. End summary.
Bridge Rapidly Repaired After Militants Destroyed It
-------------- --------------
2. (C) Engineers from the 11th Corps of the Pakistan Army
installed a new bridge after militants blew up the previous one
on February 3. Traffic was temporarily halted while officials
repaired the bridge in what observers hailed as record time but
resumed on February 7. The mission's Narcotics Affairs Section
(NAS) provided the 40 meter pre-fabricated steel bridge,
imported from Germany and already in Pakistan, to the Pakistan
Army.
3. (SBU) The British-era Ali Masjid Bridge, constructed of
iron in 1923, was one of the oldest on the Pak-Afghan Highway,
approximately halfway between Landi Kotal and the Torkham border
crossing. Four single lane RCC (Reinforced Cement Concrete)
bridges are on the route between Jamrud and Landi Kotal.
Because these bridges consist of single lanes, heavy traffic
jams frequently develop. NAS plans to convert all four bridges
to standard double lane bridges, 40 meters in length.
Security Repels Militant Attack on Cargo Terminal
-------------- --------------
4. (C) In the predawn hours of February 7, militants attacked
the truck convoy terminal at Ring Road with rockets, petrol
bombs and small-arms fire. In sharp contrast to attacks in
December when security forces failed to respond (reftel),this
time the cargo terminal security guards stood their ground,
exchanged small-arms fire with the militants. Police who had
received a tip off about a possible attack on the terminal were
ready and responded promptly, scattering militants and bringing
in a fire brigade to mitigate damage.
Increased Security Measures For Terminals
--------------
5. (C) The Khyber convoy route, as well as the Ring Road and
Bilal terminals, continues to be targets in recent attacks as
the terminals in Peshawar can hold up to 350 trailers. The
terminal managers have taken measures to increase security,
improve response time to incidents, and decrease the
time-in-storage by stepping-up the dispatching of cargo and
encouraging the use of terminals outside the NWFP.
Comment
--------------
6. (C) The rapid rebuilding of the Ali Masjid bridge on
February 7 and the successful repelling of a militant attack on
a cargo terminal in Peshawar the same day are early but welcome
signs of the government's determination to keep the coalition
trucks safe and moving. While militant attacks are likely to
continue, rapid police response and successes are undoubtedly a
boost to police morale.
TRACY
SIPDIS
E.O. 12958: DECL: 2/18/2019
TAGS: PTER MOPS PGOV PK
SUBJECT: IMPROVING RESPONSES TO MILITANT ATTACKS NEAR PESHAWAR
REF: 08 ISLAMABAD 3944
CLASSIFIED BY: Lynne Tracy, Principal Officer, Peshawar,
Department of State.
REASON: 1.4 (a),(b),(d)
Summary
--------------
1. (C) Recent attacks in Khyber Agency and Peshawar,
including the destruction of a bridge, indicate that militants
are still trying to disrupt U.S./NATO supply routes through
Pakistn to Afghanistan. In contrast to late last year, when
security forces were slow or failed to respond to attacks, we
are seeing some encouraging and welcome signs, particularly from
the police, of a more rapid response to violence. End summary.
Bridge Rapidly Repaired After Militants Destroyed It
-------------- --------------
2. (C) Engineers from the 11th Corps of the Pakistan Army
installed a new bridge after militants blew up the previous one
on February 3. Traffic was temporarily halted while officials
repaired the bridge in what observers hailed as record time but
resumed on February 7. The mission's Narcotics Affairs Section
(NAS) provided the 40 meter pre-fabricated steel bridge,
imported from Germany and already in Pakistan, to the Pakistan
Army.
3. (SBU) The British-era Ali Masjid Bridge, constructed of
iron in 1923, was one of the oldest on the Pak-Afghan Highway,
approximately halfway between Landi Kotal and the Torkham border
crossing. Four single lane RCC (Reinforced Cement Concrete)
bridges are on the route between Jamrud and Landi Kotal.
Because these bridges consist of single lanes, heavy traffic
jams frequently develop. NAS plans to convert all four bridges
to standard double lane bridges, 40 meters in length.
Security Repels Militant Attack on Cargo Terminal
-------------- --------------
4. (C) In the predawn hours of February 7, militants attacked
the truck convoy terminal at Ring Road with rockets, petrol
bombs and small-arms fire. In sharp contrast to attacks in
December when security forces failed to respond (reftel),this
time the cargo terminal security guards stood their ground,
exchanged small-arms fire with the militants. Police who had
received a tip off about a possible attack on the terminal were
ready and responded promptly, scattering militants and bringing
in a fire brigade to mitigate damage.
Increased Security Measures For Terminals
--------------
5. (C) The Khyber convoy route, as well as the Ring Road and
Bilal terminals, continues to be targets in recent attacks as
the terminals in Peshawar can hold up to 350 trailers. The
terminal managers have taken measures to increase security,
improve response time to incidents, and decrease the
time-in-storage by stepping-up the dispatching of cargo and
encouraging the use of terminals outside the NWFP.
Comment
--------------
6. (C) The rapid rebuilding of the Ali Masjid bridge on
February 7 and the successful repelling of a militant attack on
a cargo terminal in Peshawar the same day are early but welcome
signs of the government's determination to keep the coalition
trucks safe and moving. While militant attacks are likely to
continue, rapid police response and successes are undoubtedly a
boost to police morale.
TRACY